A trait generally found in highly creative people, that can be developed by everyone, is that they "perceive the world differently". This may mean many things. Let's play with it this week by taking different perspectives to view the world from each day for 15 to 30 minutes.

According to my 1997 paperback Merriam-Webster Dictionary,

perceive
to attain awareness
to become aware of through the senses

perception
awareness of one's environment through
   physical senses
ability to understand

So each day during the time that you specifically set aside to further develop your creative thinking skills and abilities view your environment or an environment from different perspectives. The environments may be:

1. your home, a favorite room
2. your workplace, your cubicle, office, lab, work area
3. your town, city, neighborhood
4. a place you go to play and have fun
5. your school, place you go to learn or have in the past

Monday
Experience using all your senses one environment from Toto, Lassie, Kermit or Mickey's perspective: a favorite pet.

Tuesday
Experience using all your senses one environment from the perspective of a Famous person from the past.

Wednesday
Experience using all your senses one environment from the perspective of an insect.

Thursday
Experience using all your senses one environment from the perspective of inanimate objects in the environment: a chair, table, bed, desk, computer, slide, swingset, baseball bat.

Friday
Experience using all your senses one environment from the perspective of the environment towards the human beings and animals in the environment.

Have fun stretching your imagination this week. Please share a sample of what you discover or what your mind creates.

Think towards the end of the week how thinking these ways, taking these perspectives might help you in working on problems or challenges at school, work or in your life in general.

© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 Robert Alan Black, Ph.D. CSP