On a daily basis, there is so much happening around us that, many at times, we forget to stop and stare — Or to simply notice. We tend to have typical days that are filled with schedules and routines and that makes it difficult for us to have unique experiences.

As a creative, I personally try to avoid having typical days. I need my days to be full of experiences that inspire, motivate and influence me. But the only way you and I can have those sort of experiences is by pausing, stopping and staring.

This is an art. It is the art of observation and it is not easy to do. The majority of people around us don’t even notice when something around them is off or when a close friend or family is actually depressed but putting up a front.

It is even way more difficult now, in the internet era, to actually pause and observe because we are bombarded with thousands of contents and information per minute.

But we need to try harder and do better to observe. The only way you and I can grow creatively is by pausing, observing and focusing every now and then.

To be creative, you need to experience things — emotionally, psychologically, physically, metaphysically, spiritually, or in any way. Experience builds your creativity. But we can’t have experiences without mastering the art of observation. When we master the art of observation, we know how to make the best of experiences and use them to create something new.

Seth Godin once said in an interview with the Unmistakable Creative Podcast.

“If you know you have to write a blog post tomorrow, something in writing, something that will be around 6 months from now, about something in the world, you will start looking for something in the world to write about. You will seek to notice something interesting and to say something creative about it. Well, isn’t that all we’re looking for? The best practice of generously sharing what you notice about the world is exactly the antidote for your fear.”

As you go about your day, today, seek to notice something new.