Hi-Res Master Class: 5 Uncommon Senses That Will Change Your Life
Creatives seem to have it all: the best careers, immeasurable passion, the coolest ideas and the ability to always seem so inexplicably content. It’s almost as though they somehow got the secret, easy-to-read manual for life while everyone else got stuck with the one in Flemish. However, we all have the ability to take a cue from the creative class and enrich our lives by developing five uncommon senses that the most iconic artists and innovators appear to posses. These uncommon senses are distinctive, yet interrelated and by learning to implement each into your daily life, you will foster a greater sense of creativity, contentment and success. Let’s take an in-depth look into how each sense works and why.
- Sense of Creativity: Being creative is a lot more than being really good at arts and crafts projects or dressing like a hipster. Persons with a developed sense of creativity are better at drawing conclusions, thinking critically and seeing patterns and cycles. So how does this translate to a plus in the real world? It makes you a master problem solver when it comes to life, your job and interpersonal relationships. It also doesn’t hurt that it usually leads to a greater sense of confidence and fulfillment. Break out of your mold by starting small. Experience different foods, music, culture and ways of life or throw yourself into a hobby or activity you’ve never tried before. While some people will be more daring than others, the fact is that everyone can benefit from trying to see the world with new eyes and slowly stepping outside of their comfort zone.
- Sense of Adventure: An old American proverb says, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” and no truer words have ever been spoken. No one changes the world or their life by playing it safe and the most innovative people in the world have this uncommon sense down pat. Taking the road less travelled can be a very scary thing, especially when most people would bank on your failure, but silence the haters by being open to the opportunities that life presents. Having a developed sense of adventure opens our point of reference to ideas and that can mean the difference between hearing about the next big thing or inventing it yourself. Sure, not every venture will result in success, but by living each day with an attitude of ‘yes’ you will not only have more fun, you’ll also have a much better chance of cultivating meaningful experiences—which is what people respond to most.
- Sense of Connection: We all have those days when we need to be left alone, but every human being has a strong need to connect through communal experiences. For example, take social media and that feeling you get when you just have to share a picture, story or video with the people you know. Creatives are adept at understanding this need and using it to help their work make an impact, but anyone can also use it to make an impact from our little corner of the globe as well. Understanding this sense of connection—that we are all interrelated—helps make us all kinder and more empathetic. When you feel connected, you live each day with good intentions and those good intentions can spur positive actions, which in turn can spawn revolutions. It may be easier to believe that it’s every man for himself, but the altruism that comes with a sense of connection helps us all collectively in the long run.
- Sense of Identity: It is a question as old as time itself and one that has plagued us through most of our formative years: ‘Who am I?’ If you’ve ever noticed that the most creative people seem to be the ones who are most comfortable with themselves, you aren’t mistaken. A sense of identity grounds us and is an important tool to help us make our way through life successfully. When we’ve figured out who we are, it is much easier to understand our purpose, how others view us and what is expected of us. People who lack a sense of identity often lack self-respect and find themselves in unhealthy situations and relationships. This is exactly why a sense of identity is directly associated with a sense of well-being. By understanding who you are and how you are unique in our own way, you will be able to better formulate a plan of action for your life—which will put you that much closer to fulfilling your calling.
- Sense of Purpose: Perhaps one of the most common “uncommon” senses amongst creatives is a distinct sense of purpose. There’s a reason why they do what they do and it is because all of the senses mentioned above have led them to believe they were simply born to do what they are doing. People with a sense of purpose are able to commit to and perform daily tasks that at times can be tedious or monotonous, because they realize that through life’s ups and downs, they are doing work that matters. The most creative people are motivated by tasks, not rewards, so they believe their work truly matters in the grand scheme of things. Adopting this sense and changing how you view the work you contribute to world will make you much more able to overcome obstacles and tackle them with tenacity and enthusiasm, even when you don’t feel like it mentally.
