January is observed annually as International Creativity Month, a month dedicated to human creativity. According to the dictionary, the term “creativity” means the use of imagination to create original ideas, especially in the creation of artistic work.

Although this is a pretty good definition of the subject, we think it’s too narrow. Creativity isn’t just something that flows through artists but is something that exists in all human beings.

Every single person on this planet is a vessel for creativity; we just have to embrace it and harness it for our own ends. That’s why this holiday is so important. It’s a day that shows all of us that we too can be creative in our day-to-day lives.

The History of International Creativity Month

This holiday was originally created by Randall Munson, an entertainer, speaker, and author of books such as “Creativity 101,” “Creativity 102,” “The Sales Coach II,” and “Break-Out Creativity.”

He created this holiday to show ordinary people that they too have the power of creativity, that it isn’t something that’s reserved for writers, painters, and poets. We’re not exactly sure when this holiday was invented, but we do know that it’s been around for a few years now.

Some Interesting Facts About Creativity

Since we’re on the subject of creativity, let’s take a few moments to talk about it in a little bit more detail. We’ve rounded up a number of interesting facts about creativity that we would like to now share with everyone. Let’s take a look at them and continue our journey toward pure creativity for all!

• A good night’s sleep is important to keep creativity from stagnating.
• Conformity kills creativity.
• Positivity can help enhance creativity.
• Stress can have a negative effect on a person’s creativity.
• Sarcasm can increase creative thinking.
• Empathy is beneficial to creativity.

Observing International Creativity Month

We encourage everyone to take the time to exercise their “creativity muscle.” Yes, that’s right, everyone is capable of creativity, but not everyone is practiced in using it. As a result, their creativity might not be as sharp as someone who uses it every day.

So everyone should take a moment to do something creative. This can be writing a short story, painting a picture, or whipping up a gourmet meal. It doesn’t matter what the creative endeavor is as long as they take the time to do it.

And while they’re flexing their creativity, they should take the time to share it with the world using the hashtag #InternationalCreativityMonth on social media.