Unlocking creativity through paradox and imagination

Creativity happens when we make unusual connections, turning what is familiar into something strange.

We often assume certain things naturally go together—like a boat, duck, and water. But when we pair unexpected elements, we step into creative terrain. For example, imagine the absurd combination of a “ham sandwich” and “hair gel.” While clearly nonsensical, this paradoxical pairing opens a new space for curiosity and surprise.

This tension between opposites creates a third space—a fertile ground where creativity thrives. Pairing paradoxical ideas is also the closest way we can express the ineffable. Poet John O’Donohue, in his book Beauty, captures this beautifully:

“It is impossible for language to express this nearness for in the end every thought is an act of distance, a separation with the Divine. Even words like ‘nearness,’ ‘intimacy,’ or ‘love’ still indicate separation. Only the strained language of paradox can suggest the breathtaking surprise of Divine closeness. God is breath-near, skin-touch, mind-home, heart-nest, thought-forest, otherness-river, night-well, time-salt, moon-wings, soul-fold.”

The “strained language of paradox” opens a realm of possibility where something entirely new can emerge.

Embracing Paradox in the Creative Process

In my Psychology of Creativity courses, I guide students to leave their rational minds behind and let their imaginations take over. To facilitate this, I intentionally introduce confusion. One of my most powerful exercises involves having students speak gibberish to one another.

At first, they’re perplexed. The mind can’t grasp what’s being said, which forces them to abandon logic and step into a third space—a deeply imaginal realm. There, a new language emerges through images, metaphors, and story.

This exercise highlights a key truth: magic happens when we step out of our element. Creativity requires confronting the unknown, embracing confusion, and inviting the paradoxical.

Creativity Is About Seeing the World Differently

Creativity flourishes when we question our habitual ways of seeing and imagine the world as it could be. It’s about making impossible juxtapositions that reveal surprising insights and connections. The surprising and paradoxical pull us out of ordinary thinking and into the extraordinary.

So, what doesn’t make sense to you? Start there.

Let your creativity lead you into the unknown, where paradox invites you to see the world anew.