Creativity is the state, or quality, of being creative. It does not necessarily mean anything that is absolutely new. All you need to do is just think it through.
Creativity is also a process of finding new ways to combining old ideas — moulding, manoeuvring, and synthesising them with purpose.
In other words, what you’d need to do to being creative is actually blend the ideas that already exist. Not merely copy, but tinker with them resolutely. This is, essentially, creativity by definition — a pursuit like no other.
Think Outside The Box
A person who is creative always tends to think outside the box. They are open to the possibility of finding a better way to accomplishing a task, or thinking of a solution to a problem. Such a person will also believe that creativity is a process. A pathway to finding answers that can take a host of directions.
The important thing, however, is to be open, and find solutions when you least expect them.
A manager in a company, for instance, should never be surprised with events. They should be like the watchful umpire during the course of a one-day cricket match, and its pressure-cooker atmosphere — in control of the situation.
Now comes the big question. How can you cultivate and promote creativity in your life? There are no easy answers. But, the following points would be more than useful — to get started.
First, and foremost, you have to develop the ability of finding something valuable, or agreeable, when you are not even consciously looking out for it. Because, when you are open-minded, you often make lucky discoveries. What’s more, by developing your own creative powers, you can write your own creative ‘luck’ too. Luck, which is nothing but a possibility in origin.
You know it, don’t you: that the greatest of inventions, and discoveries, have often been a result of accident? If Sir Isaac Newton and Sir Alexander Fleming, for example, had not been alert to possibility — the falling apple, and the spore of penicillinum notatum — their discoveries might have taken ‘ages’ to attain their objective.
Brainstorming
This is also one reason why most of us, also companies today, are using a popular technique — brainstorming — to generating ideas and solutions in a group sitting. You’d do it too. Else, you’d do something on your own. But, you have to be gentle with yourself — because sparks of inspiration may last for just a few seconds. So, always be prepared — whatever your occupation.
- Carry a scribble pad. Also, make notes the moment you hit upon an idea
- Never postpone making notes for a ‘next’ time. You may miss something vital
- Some of the best ideas/solutions may occur when you stop being ‘creative,’ by force. Reason: you can’t compel yourself to being creative — always. So, relax, whenever possible
- Let ideas flow. Take a walk, meditate, listen to soft, soulful music — i.e., tune into sonic energy
- Allow your subconscious mind time to work on an idea/problem
- Believe in yourself
- Trust your creative instincts.
Most important. Don’t be preoccupied with the concept of creativity alone. When you hit upon an idea, just follow it through. Don’t allow it to fade away. Why? Because, ideas, as you may know, need to be honed, fine-tuned, and perfected.
Handy Hints
- Try to use your right-brain at imagining a whole concept [See Box: Know Your Brain Type]
- Use your left-brain to bring order and logic
- Another good idea — use soft, quiet music, with less than 60 beats a minute, in the background
- Listening to good music, as research suggests, actually taps both sides, potentially uniting creative and analytical functions in our brain/mind. It also helps us to implement ideas better. This is not as difficult as you’d think. It’s almost a seamless, automatic process — sort of.
The best part — it opens up possibilities for your creativity to flow. With good results.
Dr RAJGOPAL NIDAMBOOR, PhD, is a wellness physician-writer-editor, independent researcher, critic, columnist, author and publisher. His published work includes hundreds of newspaper, magazine, web articles, essays, meditations, columns, and critiques on a host of subjects, eight books on natural health, two coffee table tomes and an encyclopaedic treatise on Indian philosophy. He is Chief Wellness Officer, Docco360 — a mobile health application/platform connecting patients with Ayurveda, homeopathic and Unani physicians, and nutrition therapists, among others, from the comfort of their home — and, Editor-in-Chief, ThinkWellness360.
