Yesterday I attended the monthly Houston Social Media Breakfast at Coffee Groundz. The featured speaker was Kelsey Ruger (a.k.a. The Moleskin).

He walked us through several activities designed to to get our creative juices flowing. It was fun. It was helpful.

One of the things I realized (as we went through one game or another) is that I needed the jolt. I do self-censor my ideas to filter out the good ones, before I write them down or share them. I do think about what’s practical when coming up with concepts and strategies and innovations (in process or message). I do think about too many things as I’m brainstorming. I hinder my creativity.

I have always considered myself to be a creative person. As a child wrote songs and stories, made up friends and games, and I drew on anything that I could get away with – much to my parents’ dismay. I never thought in straight lines, rarely did just one thing at a time.

Somewhere along the line I’ve let function interfere with unfettered creativity. I’m still creative, but it’s in a very adult sort of way. It’s… functional.

I think it’s time for a creativity re-boot. I’ll let you know how it goes.