Creativity refers to the incident or phenomenon whereby a person creates something new (a product, a solution, a work of art etc.) that has some kind of value. The term generally refers to a richness of ideas and originality of thinking. Arguably, creativity does not pop out only from imaginative skill but instead, creativity is a lifestyle, a personality peculiarity, a way of perceiving the world, a way of living and a way of growing. In simpler terms creativity means thinking creatively and acting creatively.
There are many ways and different places where creativity can emerge, like I said just by looking at things around you and how they interact with the world. Therefore being creative does not necessarily mean one has to be a genius, everyone is creative, and it’s just that some of us are afraid to try and see, some of us give up on the way, and some of us are lazy to get up and work on something. But at least my observation tells me that this generation will make a change.
Creativity through Serendipity (coincidence)
Ever heard of W.K. Kellogg? I think one that clicks on your mind should be “Kellogg’s corn flakes”. Now lets the story begin...Kellogg who was a world’s famous philanthropists can be described as the inventor of modern breakfast cereal as a substitute for bread.
One day, while cooking some wheat, the man was called away and the wheat was left to go stale. Upon returning, Kellogg forced the stale wheat through the rollers anyway, something he normally would not have done. He was surprised when the wheat did not come out in long sheets of dough, but rather as wheat kernels flattened into a thin individual flakes. When baked, the flakes yielded a tasty, crunchy breakfast food that would produce a whole new industry of cereals.
There are other many more creativities that have occurred through serendipity such as the one for, Christopher Columbus and how he discovered America, Wilhelm Rontgen and his X-ray discovery and many more.
Creativity by Forcing Relationships
Now think! Who would have ever thought of a wheel chair? The ability to connect two or more different ideas, concepts or things which have been formerly distinct is a fundamental ingredient in the creative process. The person who invented the wheel chair connected the idea of the wheel to a chair and we have the wheel chair for the disabled. Then the idea of the wheel chair triggered other inventions such as the modern wheel chair basketball and technology found its way to make life easier by introducing push-to-start wheel chairs. See how man can be creative.
Again, there are other many more examples of forcing relationships such as car-radios, car-phones, mobile-homes, and mobile-libraries. The same applies authentically to our habits like the combination of beer with a couple puffs of cigarette...
Creativity by Challenging the Obvious
History (times gone by) has demonstrated that man enhanced his environment mainly by challenging the obvious. Take a look at the what Wright brothers (Orville and Wilbur Wright) came up with, Wright brothers made the first successful experiment in which a machine (aka airplane) carrying a man rose by its own power, flew naturally and at even speed, and descended without damage just like birds will do.
Challenging the obvious also exists in educational problems and innovations. The fact that more teachers and more educational facilities have to be provided for the increasing numbers of student, has lead planners to challenge the obvious. Instead of providing education in classes only, they made a point to provide education through electronic media such television, radio, computers, and self-instructional modules.
Conversely, challenging the obvious has a kaleidoscope of areas to look at and all you have to do is think and embrace the word creativity.
What’s on my mind?
Everyone is creative
Creativity can be done in any field
Creativity can come as a result of failure or success
Creativity never ends
Read more: check out this book “On Creativity: Awakening the Creative Mind” by Leo Ann Mean. That is where I had most of my inspiration and I feel great to acknowledge him.
