Creative Something

I use to love solving puzzles.

Searching through that enormous pile of cheap, cardboard cutout pieces, trying to find a piece to fit an empty space. The feeling I got when the pieces all fell into place was invigorating. And then, when all but one piece of the puzzle had been put together, I became overwhelmed with a feeling of accomplishment.

I remember sitting back and looking at the puzzle I had just solved, I became inspired and started thinking that “I could solve puzzles forever.”

Fortunately for me, there really isn’t a single job that does not require problem solving. No matter what career I decided to chose, I would have to solve some type of problem. And luckily for all of us, problem solving is the best use of creativity.

As an example, part of my day job requires a lot of web programming, and being able to look at a problem, something that needs to be done, then finding a way to make it all work – finding a way to put the pieces together – is what makes me love my job. The feeling of success is unavoidable each time I make something work. And I owe that feeling all to my creativity.

Now, whenever I’m feeling un–inspired, I look for a puzzle to solve. Upon completion of the puzzle I’m always in the mood for more of that feeling of accomplishment. It motivates my creativity. Solving puzzles works for me.

But what about you? I want to know why you like (or love) creativity. What made you fall in love with the feeling of being creative, and does it still inspire your creativity today?

Original photo by Trevor.