I did it. I wore white after Labor Day! To most of you, this may seem like no big deal. In fact, you may be asking, “why should I care?” Actually, you’re probably right. You shouldn’t care. But, I grew up in an era where the “rules” said you didn’t wear white after Labor Day – not white shoes, white pants, white dresses. White was for summer. Once that first weekend in September was history, white wouldn’t make an appearance until sometime in mid-June. I’ve known for quite some time, that the rules had changed. There were no special rules for when to wear white. White is just a color. But, I still couldn’t change.
My decision to finally let go of something so simple was easy. I just gave it a try. I broke the rules. I wore white after Labor Day. The world did not end. No one pointed and laughed. I wasn’t shunned by others. In fact, absolutely nothing happened at all.
Creativity is a little like that. To be creative, you have to look outside the rules. You must explore outside the boundaries. Moving outside the boundaries allows you to see new perspectives.
Edward deBono said “creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.”
Our patterns, routines, and habits serve a purpose. They help us organize our lives to get things done in a timely fashion. But routine stifles our mind. It closes our eyes to the extraordinary.
Next time you are faced with a problem or simply desire to explore alternatives, just do it. Break the rules. Do something you’ve never done before. Breaking a few rules unclogs the pathways and allows the creative juices to flow freely. Just do it. Go ahead. Wear White!