The human mind is a marvel of efficiency, constantly building mental models and assumptions to navigate a complex world without being overwhelmed. These assumptions act as cognitive shortcuts, allowing us to make quick decisions. However, this very efficiency is the enemy of creativity. A mind that operates on autopilot, relying on ingrained beliefs about what is possible or correct, becomes a closed system. True creativity flourishes not in the safety of the known, but in the fertile ground of the unexplored. Therefore, the most powerful method to boost creativity is to deliberately and consistently challenge your own assumptions, primarily through the active pursuit of new experiences.

Our assumptions are like invisible walls around our thinking. We assume we know how a certain process must work, what a specific type of person is like, or what constitutes a “good” solution in our field. These unexamined beliefs constrain our imagination, limiting our ideas to variations of what already exists. The creative rut that many individuals and organizations experience is often not a lack of talent, but a surplus of unchallenged assumptions. The path forward requires a conscious effort to dismantle these walls by stepping outside our familiar environments and routines.

This is where the strategy of exploring new experiences becomes a direct catalyst for innovation. When you immerse yourself in an unfamiliar context—whether it’s learning a craft like pottery, traveling to a culture with different social norms, or simply taking a different route to work—you are forced to process new information. Your brain cannot rely on its old assumptions because they do not apply. This cognitive dissonance is the spark of creativity. A chef who volunteers in a robotics lab might gain a novel perspective on kitchen efficiency. A graphic designer attending a biology lecture might discover patterns that transform their art. These cross-pollinations of ideas happen when we break our routine and allow novel stimuli to challenge our entrenched ways of seeing.

Ultimately, creativity is about connecting disparate ideas in unique ways. You cannot make these new connections if you are always drawing from the same old pool of knowledge, filtered through the same old assumptions. By seeking out new experiences, you are not merely collecting memories; you are actively stocking your creative pantry with fresh, unconventional ingredients. You are compelling your brain to form new neural pathways and question the status quo. The deliberate act of challenging what you think you know is not an admission of ignorance, but a declaration of a curious and open mind. It is the conscious choice to trade the comfort of certainty for the thrilling possibility of a truly original idea.