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 Keys to Creativity
from Leonardo Da Vinci
We would all agree that Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the most creative people who ever walked the planet. In his book, How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michael J. Gelb outlines the Seven Da Vincian Principles, drawn from the author's intensive study of Da Vinci and his methods. By remembering, developing and applying these principles to our own lives, each of us can unleash our own unlimited potential for creativity.
Be Ever Curious and Keep Learning
The desire to learn and grow is at the heart of the creative process. People who are intensely curious develop the habit of asking questions--about everything! Gelb suggests that we keep a notebook or journal (Leonardo's journals totalled at least 7,000 pages). Along with your insights, dreams, and musings, write down questions you are curious about. A good start is by making a list of 100 questions that are important to you. The questions can be on any topic, but the list must be done at one sitting. Then choose the ten that seem most important to you for further study.
Your top ten questions may lead you to learn something new. Enroll in that watercolor or Spanish class or give yourself the gift of guitar lessons. Follow your interests and keep learning.
Test Your Knowledge and Learn from your Mistakes
Question your own opinions and judgments, and be open to other points of view. Examine a belief you hold deeply and ask yourself what it would be like to change it. It might even be a belief about yourself--that you can't draw, for example. Is it really true, or is it just possible you can draw and just might enjoy it? Challenge a cherished belief and grow in the process.
Acknowledging and learning from the mistakes we all make is another important principle. Leonardo, the greatest genius of all time, made collossal mistakes such as an unsuccessful attempt to divert the Arno River and the invention of a fire-preventing sprinker system for a restaurant. The latter worked too well--it flooded the restaurant and washed away most of the kitchen during a major banquet for Italian dignitaries! Experience is often the best teacher, even if you're Leonardo Da Vinci.
Cultivate Your Senses--Especially Your Sight
Leonardo reflected that the average person "looks without seeing, listens without hearing, touches without feeling, eats without tasting, moves without physical awareness, inhales without awareness of odor or fragrance, and talks without thinking."
Strive to heighten your senses through careful observation and attention to detail. The Gelb book contains some great exercises on this topic.
Embrace the Unknown
The pace of change in our modern lives is unprecedented, and we are bombarded with information on every front. As a result, our lives are filled with much ambiguity. Think about what situations in your own life are surrounded with uncertainty. Observe your feelings about this, and think about how you could be become more comfortable with it. Among many other suggestions, Gelb suggests a novel tactic--embodying the facial expression of the Mona Lisa. I tried it for a few minutes, and I did indeed feel calmer. Maybe Mona was a meditator!
Strive for Whole Brain Thinking
Left brain/right brain theory wasn't developed until the 1960s, but as always, Leonardo was ahead of his time. He encouraged having a balance of science and art in your life. Great ideas come from and are developed by using both logic and imagination.
Nuture and Develop the Body
Create an awareness of your body and develop a fitness program to promote strength and flexibilty. One of Leonardo's most famous sketches was that of his own body, and Gelb suggests we try it ourselves. Leonardo also cultivated ambidexterity by doing things like writing and drawing with both hands simultaneously.
Recognize and Appreciate the Interconnectedness of all Things
Reflect on the connection of all things, beginning with your own body. Relax and become aware of the different systems of your physical being and the way they work harmoniously to support the whole that is you. Contemplate your relationship to everything in the universe. Become the observer of connections throughout your daily life.
Even if he didn't leave us hidden messages in his paintings as portrayed in The Da Vinci Code, Leonardo has much to teach us about our own creativity. I hope you'll explore some of these ideas yourself.
Until next month,
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Ideas and Tips 
