Ask anyone to define creativity, and chances are they’ll point to the arts—painting, writing, music, theater. And sure, that’s one outcome of it. But I am convinced creativity is something much broader. It’s a life skill that can be developed, refined, and even taught.

More importantly, creativity is not a talent, it’s problem-solving (source: below). It’s the ability to adapt to the unexpected, navigate complexity, and connect dots others didn’t even see. And when you look at creativity through this lens, its value goes far beyond the arts—it becomes central to how we live, work, and thrive.

Creativity: A Secret Weapon for Everyday Life

Why does creativity matter so much in our day-to-day lives? Because it makes us better equipped to handle...well, just about everything.

Take confidence. Studies have shown (source: below) that kids who engage in creative activities feel more self-assured when tackling challenges. Why? Because they’ve trained their brains to think flexibly. When you’ve allowed yourself to imagine a hundred different ways to solve a problem, even unexpected hurdles don’t feel so daunting.

Better yet, if you believe you can solve the problem (confidence), you’re much more likely to do so.

And then there’s anxiety. Turns out creativity has this wonderful indirect side-effect of reducing stress (source: below). Whether it’s painting, writing, or just brainstorming, engaging in something creative can quiet your mind and center you. In other words, creativity isn’t just about expression—it’s a way to “optimize” ourselves. It gives us the tools to stay calm, confident, and ready for whatever life throws at you.

Creative Thinking: The Edge in Any Job

Here’s where it gets really interesting: creativity is essential in any profession. And I mean any.

Think about it. A doctor diagnosing a complex condition? That’s creativity. An engineer designing a more efficient bridge? An accountant looking for ways to save a client money on taxes? A teacher finding a way to connect with a struggling student? You guessed it—all creative acts.

Research backs this up (source: below). Studies show that creative thinkers excel in problem-solving in general, teamwork, and adaptability—all traits that lead to success, regardless of the industry. So, if you want to excel in your career, start by building your creative muscles.

Or scrap that. If you want your town, your company, your state, your country to run better and more creatively, then we all need to build those muscles. But can we?

Can Creativity Be Taught?

Spoiler alert—it can absolutely be learned.

In fact, structured training programs have been shown to boost creative thinking significantly. One study (source: below) found that even short-term creativity exercises led to measurable improvements in divergent thinking (the ability to generate multiple solutions to a problem). And when you introduce creativity into schools, the results are even more impressive. Kids exposed to creative curricula develop stronger problem-solving skills, higher confidence, and an edge that carries into adulthood. Hold this thought.

The key is intentionality. We now know that, just like any skill, creativity abilities grow when you practice them regularly and with purpose.

Why aren’t we doing this in schools? Reading, writing, arithmetic…and creativity.

A Call to Action: Teaching Creativity in Schools

If creativity isn’t optional and It’s a survival skill, a success skill, and an everyday tool we all need, then we need to get serious about preparing the next generation for the future. We need to start fostering creativity from kindergarten on, now.

Imagine if schools treated creativity the way they treat math or reading—as a core competency. Imagine if parents encouraged their kids to solve problems creatively, not just get the right answer. Imagine a world where creativity wasn’t thought of as just icing, but cake.

At Ideasicle X, we see creativity as the engine of everything—every business, every brand, every big idea. And we believe it’s time for everyone else to see it that way, too.

So, let’s stop thinking of creativity as something reserved for the arts or even for advertising. It’s bigger than that. It’s life. And it’s something we can all cultivate if we, one, realize it is cultivatable, and, two, allow ourselves and society to proactively cultivate it.

Besides, as we grow the Ideasicle X business we’ll need more Ideasicle Experts in the pipeline. Nothing is unthinkable!

Sources:

Source: Creativity as a Life Skill: How Developing Creative Thinking Enhances Resilience and Problem-Solving

Source: Creativity In Education

Source: How Creativity Can Heal Your Life in Troubled Times

Source: The Role of Creative Activities in Developing Critical Thinking in Preschoolers

Source: Creativity and Resilience as Predictors of Career Success

Source: Teaching Creativity: The Role of Structured Training Programs

Source: The Impact of Creative Curricula on Student Development

Will Burns is the Founder & CEO of the revolutionary virtual-idea-generating company, Ideasicle X. He’s an advertising veteran from such agencies as Wieden & Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein, Arnold Worldwide, and Mullen. He was a Forbes Contributor for nine years writing about creativity in modern branding. Sign up for the Ideasicle Newsletter and never miss a post like this. Will’s bio.