In a world where automation is increasingly transforming our jobs, creativity is one thing we have over our machine overlords.
That explains why experts hail it as one of the top skills to have in the future.
But if you think you're not creative, think again.
Creativity isn't limited to a select few who are amazing painters or groundbreaking musos.
Instead, it's a process of thought and something we can all get better at.
Simply 'a new way of looking at things'
Micah Goldwater, a senior lecturer of psychology from the University of Sydney, says that traditionally things had to be novel, original and useful to be considered creative.
But he says this definition is limiting.
"Creativity is found in those moments when your perspective shifts, and you find a new way of looking at things," he says.
Researchers have classified creativity into two categories — 'little-c' creativity (such as finding a new way to work or coming up with a joke) and 'big-C' creativity (composing a song, writing a novel or designing a science experiment).
Dr Goldwater says that people also often make the mistake of comparing themselves to brilliant scientists or revolutionary innovators — thinking that if they're not like them, they mustn't be creative.
Instead he believes that creativity is possible in everything we do, given we all have different perspectives on just about anything.
Many of us will use creative thinking every day as we come up multiple ideas or solutions when we need them. It could be having a think about what's for dinner tonight, how you'll get home in the rain or how to finish writing an article…
So why don't I feel creative in my day-to-day life?
As we get older, our life experiences start to cement our understanding of the world.
That's great for a lot of reasons, such as saving time, but it also causes us to form associations based on what we already know.
There's a notion in psychology called 'functional fixedness' says Dr Goldwater, which shows how stuck we get when asked to use an object in a different way than what we're traditionally used to.
You might look at a cardboard box, for example, and associate it with moving house or sending a parcel. Give it to a kid, and they are likely to come up with a bunch of different uses — from a car to a home for their toy penguins.
The ability to think laterally is a hallmark of creativity. Sometimes called divergent thinking, it's the ability to generate many ideas by exploring possible solutions.
In 1968, scientist George Land tested the creativity of 1,600 five-year-old kids. The results found that the kids really shone when it comes to divergent thinking tests. So much, in fact, that when the test was repeated with the same kids after five, 10, 15 years and well into adulthood, their 'divergent thinking' scores got progressively worse.
All the ways you can exercise your creative muscle
Dr Goldwater says that one of the easiest ways to get better at thinking creatively is to simply practise.
"With every assumption you have about the problem, ask yourself: 'What if this weren't the case? Can this be changed? How can it be changed?'" he says.
"By doing this, you increase your chances of shifting your perspective and thinking about the problem in a new way. Solutions you never would have thought of start presenting themselves."
Sue Langley, an emotional intelligence researcher and CEO of a global consulting and training company, says that much of what blocks our creativity is simply a case of 'I think, therefore I am'.
"If you think you're not creative, then you won't pursue the things that will increase your creative skill," she says.
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Ms Langley says that one of the things that can bolster creative thinking is mindfulness.
"By practising mindfulness, you can train your brain to focus your attention where you want it," she says.
Being mindful can help us narrow our focus, and removing distractions can allows us to let our mind wander in our creative pursuits instead.
Ms Langley says that creativity is fuelled by positive emotions, contrary to the common idea of the 'tortured artist'.
"Even people who suffer from manic depression will tend to be the most creative when they're on the up," she says.
Having spent some time researching creativity, I feel like I've only just scratched the surface.