Think-Up?
Buzz Lightyear: “To infinity and beyond!”
What? Think Up! Think up more ideas! CREATIVITY!!! A paradox. On the one hand it is a serious academic topic with a significant body of international research exploring it in depth. On the other hand, the practice of creativity requires an open and playful approach. Creativity has also been called the highest form of brain functioning. It is a Higher Order Thinking Skill and has a partner, Critical Thinking, creativity’s opposite. Together, they perform a magnificent dance, the Creative Problem-Solving Process, together.
So, what is Creativity? It means finding new and original solutions to problems, however big they turn out to be, and in every area of human endeavour, from searching for medical breakthrough, finding new ways of motivating staff, planning a wedding etc. etc. etc. It is identifying gaps in existing knowledge, coming up with tentative answers, sharing – and exploring this with others. The word “creativity” is not restricted to artistic expression at all although this is generally the way most of us see it.
Imagination, to see in your mind’s eye, to see what does not exist yet, contains one of the most important aspects of creativity. It is useful to distinguish between positive imagination and negative emotion, creative- and non-creative imagination. The latter happens when we worry and are anxious. It is so easy to imagine the worst-case scenario! “What if I lose my job?” “What if I get burgled?” Creative imagination happens as in the case of a young child. Something becomes something else; the possibilities are endless.
CREATIVITY = original + USEFUL + innovation = RENEWAL + NOVELTY…
Why? To survive, prosper and thrive in the long term, individuals, companies, all over, need to create and innovate. It means cultivating and nurturing new ways of thinking and doing. It entails looking with a fresh pair of eyes and changing the playing fields. This is a challenge that confronts us all. The future depends on the creative mind adapting itself to the shape of things to come. This will require bursts of insight. If we don’t make learning the art of Creativity, we cannot survive an uncertain future.
“The skills of creative thinking must be recognised as man’s most important adaptability skills.” These are the words of Professor Paul Torrance, a frontrunner in making creativity a full-scale academic subject. In fact, every breakthrough solution in the history of mankind was a product of creative endeavour. Professor Torrance also developed the first creativity test, the TTCT, which is still in use today! Another brainchild of his is the brainstorming technique which is unfortunately not always applied in the correct manner because it is not fully understood.
Research also indicates that on an individual level, the pursuit of creativity is emotionally uplifting and healing. It motivates and inspires to go beyond the stressors of everyday life towards discovering that we are less limited than we thought in finding answers for challenges. Creative endeavour can make us far happier and fulfilled in whichever field of endeavour we apply ourselves to. It is a lot like being playful having fun. Ideas are a dime a dozen. In fact, ideas are not dimes, they are diamonds!”