What aspect of living abroad is said to enhance creativity?

Living abroad enhances creativity primarily due to exposure to diverse inputs and ideas. When individuals immerse themselves in a new cultural environment, they encounter different perspectives, customs, languages, and ways of thinking. This exposure broadens their horizons and stimulates innovative thought processes by challenging existing beliefs and encouraging adaptive thinking.

Engaging with a variety of cultural stimuli inspires individuals to blend different concepts, leading to enhanced problem-solving abilities and creative expression. This kind of creative stimulation is often absent when an individual confines themselves to familiar environments or cultural contexts, which might stifle innovation and limit the variety of ideas to draw from. The richness of experiences gained through intercultural interactions fosters a more inventive mindset, ultimately boosting creativity.

In contrast, adopting a fixed cultural identity or focusing solely on tourism experiences can restrict one's ability to engage deeply with a new culture, while staying within familiar networks limits encounters with new ideas and perspectives that could otherwise enhance creativity.