People seem to have the misconception that only a select few are able to unleash a steady flow of creative genius.

That is not true at all. Unless you we’re born with a size of a pea brain … then you’re screwed. “Tigas ulo, li-it utak!

We are all born with a gift of creativity. It’s very much like a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to consistently give out great results. If you don't practice harnessing creative thinking, like a muscle, you will eventually lose tone. But with constant exercise this skill will eventually come as a second nature.

So how do you unleash your creative thinking?

Well, the first thing is to become like a sponge. Meaning you should take in as much knowledge and learning you can find. Read and absorb as much information as you possibly can and keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities of the universe. The more you know, the more you'll want to know, and the more your faculty of wonder will be exercised. Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color into your life. 

Focus on a daily creative activity. Yes, it requires some effort. But even goofing around is a creative activity as long as your open to possibility of finding something useful and interesting.

Don't let anything hinder you. Mindlessness may be a creative activity, but for people who are just starting out to unleash a little bit of creative thinking in their lives, it is helpful and encouraging to have concrete evidence. So to collect your random collections of creativity; “Your aha moments!”

You must be prepared to gather your data. Practice drawing for a couple of minutes each day. Bring out your old camera and start snapping photos like crazy. Keep a journal and make a point to write in it religiously.

Another cool idea is to write by describing something with your five senses. Try to avoid vague adjectives like "marvelous," "amazing," and "delicious."

Before you know it, you'll have built yourself a tiny portfolio, and you'll be amazed at the growth you've undertaken after amassing all those works of art. Who knows, you might actually take to liking those things you do everyday.

Pretty soon those things will become a part of you and you'll be addicted to these creative exercises.

Think out of the box -- or don't. Sometimes, constraints are actually a good thing. Limitations discipline you to work within your means. It enables you to be more resourceful. Creative freedom is great, but limitations enforce discipline.

Try something new everyday and let your experiences broaden your perspective. Explore a new district in your neighborhood. Spend an afternoon in a museum to which you've never been before.

Strike up a conversation with strangers whenever safe and appropriate. As you thrust yourself out of your comfort zone more and more each day, your sense of adventure grows and so does your zest for life.

Think about it. When was the last time you did something for the first time? If it's been a while, I tell you, you've been missing out on a whole lot of experiences that could've added to your growth, emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually.

Try something new. Challenge yourself to do something your scared of doing.

Not only will you learn, but you will also have plenty of stories to share, enabling you to practice your storytelling skills and making you the life of the party.

Embrace momentary craziness without losing your sanity. As John Russell once said, "Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting." Exactly!

Every creative thought was once deemed insane by other "normal" people at one time or another. Luckily, that didn't stop the creative geniuses from standing by them.

The thing is, sanity or being normal confines people to think... well, normally. We think limits. Creativity is essentially breaking through barriers. Yes, this includes bizzarre and the downright strange. I'm not saying that you yourself should develop a creative personality.

That might go haywire. An example of a creative personality would be George Washington, who often rode into battle naked, or James Joyce, who wrote "Dubliners" with beetle juice for an intense fear of ink, or Albert Einstein, who thought his cat was a spy sent by his rival (or in thinking creatively in this case, the term could probably be "archnemesis.") It's important that your creativity doesn't get you detached from the real world completely.

I hope this article has inspired you to start thinking beyond your "limits." If you follow these steps pretty soon you'll be living a life full of interesting adventures. Unleashing your creative thinking  will bring about a new zest for living life.