Becoming creative is not an impossible task

To nurture your creative spark is to nurture your overall well-being, and six creative minds tell Mint about what they do to keep the ideas flowing

- Jayanthi Madhukar

Defining creativity is tough. A seed of an idea can emerge as a painting as ethereal as Van Gogh's The Starry Night, a utilitarian safety pin or an ingenious self-driven car. But whether it is creating art or engineering a device, is being creative a talent ingrained in a few lucky ones? The good news is, creativity is a skill that can be developed. Another point to be made here is that having a creative bent of mind is not essential just to enrich your job or pursue a side hustle. Research links creativity to happiness and well-being making it an invaluable asset to possess for the sake of it. Dr Elizabeth Gaufberg, an associate professor of medicine and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, suggests that practicing or even just interacting with creativity can make us more empathetic, open-minded and sharpen our problem-solving skills. Mint spoke to six creative minds who know a thing or two about what it takes to keep your brain stimulated and dream up ideas or solutions almost every day.

'IDEAS FLOW WITH YOGA & NATURE' Who: Ira Trivedi is an author and trained yoga practitioner-teacher. Her books explore topics of sexuality, gender, women issues and yoga.

How I stay creative: A steady practice of yoga has helped me throughout my writing career.

It does not just work on the body but also on the mind. After doing yoga, your mind gets clear. This is important especially when we are constantly on our phones and social media where so much stuff is always happening. Also, engaging with nature by going on long walks or observing the gentle flow of the river, for instance, helps nurture the creative spark in us.

Takeaway: A holistic practice like yoga or communing with nature can sharpen your ability to see things with a different perspective.

These activities also calm you down and enhance your physical and mental wellbeing.