I hear time and time again people saying how they aren’t creative at all.

For those of you that want to increase your creativity, your five senses are a great place to begin.

1. Sight

Vision is one of the most obvious ways we interact with our world. However, we often fail to appreciate what we are seeing.

As you move through your day, take time to notice the variety of visual stimuli.

- shapes
- colors
- brightness
- inanimate objects
- living objects
- man-made objects
- clothing styles
- facial features and body types
- emotional expressions

2. Sound

Pay attention to what you are hearing throughout the day.

- languages
- animal sounds
- nature sounds
- conversations
- accents
- machines
- instruments and music

3. Touch

Realize how many different objects you interact with by touch every day. Notice how they feel.

- the clothes you wear
- door handles
- fabrics
- handshakes
- table tops
- keyboards
- steering wheels
- food
- weather (rain, wind, heat)

4. Smell

Smells are carried through the air, reaching us no matter where we are. Make a point to notice them and go out of your way to smell things.

- plants and trees
- flowers
- grass
- pets
- people (be careful here!)
- food
- the changes before and after storms
- whatever wafts in the air

5. Taste

We usually eat at least three times a day to keep our bodies fueled. Instead of wolfing down your meals, find a quiet place to eat so you can savor the different flavors of your food.

- the different food groups
- hot and cold foods
- food textures
- various liquids

As you practice focusing on your senses, you can also try to find ways to describe your experiences to others to further your creative abilities.

Paying attention to the creativity that we experience every day is a great way to find the creative spark within.

P.S. – A possible side-effect of this practice may be increased gratitude for our amazing world and the increased peace of mind that comes from focusing on the present moment.