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Travel can be a terrific creative catalyst, according to creativity expert Jordan Ayan. In his excellent book, A-ha! 10 Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas, Jordan outlines some of the powerful creative benefits of travel:
"Venturing beyond your geographic comfort zone invigorates your creative spirit. When you go somewhere you've never been before, your brain becomes alive, and you become more acutely aware of your surroundings. You notice things you might not observe at home, and even the most commonplace objects -- road signs, storefronts, telephone booths, coins -- are intriguing. Travel serves up a continually changing kaleidoscope of colors, textures, smells and tastes that heighten all of your senses and compel you to think and react in new ways… Travel jolts you out of your normal habits and gives you a renewed sense of excitement about the world that can refresh your creative wellspring."
"Perhaps more than any other tool, travel feeds your creative core and strengthens your intelligences. Each time you observe an unusual custom, hear a foreign language, listen to strange music, or walk an unfamiliar path, you inject your mind with data that build your intelligences."
My own experiences with travel support Jordan's assertions about its many benefits, especially international travel. Immersing yourself in a foreign culture heightens your senses and your mental radar to a surprising degree.
But according to Jordan, you don't have to travel to an exotic location to recharge your creative batteries: "When you are stuck on a problem or trying to generate a new idea, you can benefit from even a half-day trip to a nearby town, where browsing antiques stores or visiting a gallery might provide the inspiration you need."
If you are interested in using travel to inspire your creative muse, I recommend that you pick up a copy of Jordan's book. He devotes an entire chapter to this topic, and this marvelous book is also filled with dozens of other inspiring tips and techniques that will help you to take your creative problem-solving skills to the next level. I highly recommend it! |
