How do you motivate and enhance the creative side of the brain?

Question

I'm asking this in both the psychology and A & H sections.

Answer 1

Just as a pre-emptive - and because I'm a bit pedantic - there isn't actually a "creative" side. The right/left distinction in hemisphere is holistic and reductionist processing, not creative/logical. There is, however, a creative ability. (Rant over now).

To stimulate creative abilities - well, it depends on what sort of creative ability. Creativity can be linked to associative distance - so exercises that attempt to find connections between disparate things can help, i.e. finding synonyms, word puzzles, frequent brainstorming but especially free association training. Positive affect (mood) helps so a nice working area, working when in a good mood. Rewards and motivation also help creativity, so rewarding yourself may help.

Most studies find a significant increase in creativity when participants have undergone free association training.

Answer 2

There is a brilliant book on the market written by Betty Edwards called learning to draw on the right hand side of your brain.  One of the exercises she suggests is to take a photo of someone and to try and draw it upside down. Another is to read upside down. Your brain says you can't but you override what it says and just make yourself do it.  Get the book it is very good and will certainly stimulate your creative side.