Creative TIPs and Creatif will be combined into Creatif on December 1, 2010. However, I will not delete Creative Tips until the first of the year. I’ve been posting on one blog and neglecting the other. Creativity tips, quotes, and exercises will become part of Creatif, which includes my creative journey as a whole. The tips and such are a large part of that.

Thank you all for bearing with my sluggish blogging habits. With the merger, I believe that will change and posts will be more regular and include more than just a daily quote.

“Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.” -Rita Mae Brown (Starting From Scratch)

Do you trust yourself? This is honestly more important to creativity than you think. If you trust yourself, you’re willing to try new things, to challenge yourself while hoping they work out. Self-trust is important in general, but it’s vital to continuing your creative journey. If you feel like you’re stuck, ask yourself, “Do I trust myself? Do I trust my instincts?” Depending on the answers, you’ll be able to determine what further work you need to do in order to trust yourself again.

“All it takes is one idea to solve an impossible problem.” — Robert H. Schuller

Is there any such thing as impossible? When is the last time you tried to overcome the impossible? You can’t keep doing the same thing all the time and expect different results. “Impossible” problems could be those that you just haven’t found the right solution for yet. Keep trying and don’t be afraid to try new ideas.

“The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates.”Oscar Wilde

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flatter. Would you be satisfied with just imitating or do you prefer to create original items yourself? What level are you currently at in your creative journey? If you feel like you’re just in the imitation stage, what do you need to do to step it up and take it to the next level?

(For what it’s worth, I’m not entirely certain I agree with this quote. If the imagination merely imitates, it would be an imagination now, would it?)

“The very word possibility creates a mental climate conducive to creativity.” –Robert H. Schuller

Words have power. We often forget that. We need to embrace the possibilities inherent in us, in every day, and use them toward our creative efforts. What possibilities are you open to today?

“When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.” -Mary Kay Ash

Have you taken any detours in your creative journey recently? Detours, or changes in direction, can be accidental or intentional but they all serve to open us up to more creativity if we accept them.

“You can’t suppress creativity, you can’t suppress innovation.” -James Daly

Are you suppressing your creativity or are you embracing it and allowing innovation to come through? In some ways, I am embracing my creativity. In other ways, I’m suppressing it. I know this because at the moment, I’m doing things the way I have always done them. I am creating, but I am not allowing innovation. My goal is to change that this week. Will you do the same?

“Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.” — Walter Lippman

How are you different in your thinking than the people around you? Do you regularly go outside of their predefined boxes or do you stay within their confines as well? This week’s challenge is to get outside of any and all boxes, even those you have made yourself.

“Life is ‘trying things to see if they work.’” -Ray Bradbury

When is the last time you tried something new just to see if it worked? Admittedly, it’s been a while for me. I need to change things up and do just that. What about you?

“Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity”