THE PROCESS OF CREATIVITY FOR PROGRESS IN LIFE

                   “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have” – Maya Angelou

THE PROCESS OF CREATIVITY FOR PROGRESS IN LIFE

The word “create” entails production and before any meaningful productivity can be achieved, a process must be in place, hence the need to examine the strategies for creativity. But before we do this, we need to say something about why creativity is imperative for any advancement in life. The reason is not farfetched. God created the world and left it in a raw state with a charge: “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

This charge would have been impossible for man to carry out if God had not implanted in him a creative potential for exploration, invention and discovery. The import of this exposition is to make you know that as somebody who was created in the image of God, you are expected to be a co-creator with Him for further creations. You must decide to create. “There are yet many and varied discoveries to be made in virtually every field of human endeavour including spiritual, mental, social and physical,” says David O. Abioye. Partake in the joy of creation. John Mason reasons, “God gave us a world unfinished so we might share in the joys and satisfaction of creation.”

BOOSTERS OF CREATIVITY

Creativity flourishes with the right environment or atmosphere. Creative potentials are indeed inherent but must be activated for maximum productivity through certain boosters.

OBSERVATION:

A creator must of necessity be a keen observer of life and nature. We can gain a lot from nature. James Allen, in AS A MAN THINKETH, posits, “Nature gives all, without reservation, and loses nothing.”

The hulling machine that is used to process rice was invented by a soldier. While serving in the American civil war, he noticed a bird hulling rice. He observed the bird, took its bill and modeled his machine thereafter. There are still many things nature offer mankind if only we can observe things very well.

SOLITUDE:

Creativity requires concerted thinking. Thomas A. Edison says, “To do much clear thinking, a man must arrange for regular periods of solitude when he can concentrate and indulge his imagination without distraction.” On value of solitude, Edward Gibbon says, “Conversation enriches the understanding but solitude is the school of genius.” Create your “silent hour” when you do nothing but searching for golden ideas.

VISUALIZATION:

“The invisible is superior to the visible,” says Sam Adeyemi. To create invaluable discoveries, we must see beyond the physical; visualize what does not yet exist in the visible world and see it as a plenty; see opportunity where others see difficulty; see plenty where others see poverty and success where others see failure.

BOOKS:

The wisdom of the world is stored in books. Wisdom is needed for inspiration for lofty ideas. To access this wisdom, reading of books is imperative. The imagination is sharpened and developed through wide and comprehensive reading. No wonder, Sir Francis Bacon says, “Reading maketh a man.”

CONCENTRATION

To concentrate on something requires self-discipline. You direct your whole attention, feelings, focus and actions on something, refusing any distractions. Writing on concentration, Herbert Harris says, “It is the process by which you focus your attention on a particular thought, thing or outcome.”

CREATIVE IMITATION:

Creative and wise imitation means you can learn from other people. No matter how brilliant you may be, you can still borrow brilliance from others. Paago Aleele Imabel says, “Borrowing brilliance from greater minds is not theft or piracy but the very core of creative thinking.” It was said of Bill Gates that he borrowed the idea of for Windows from Steve Jobs of Apple after he saw the prototype for the first Macintosh. Steve Jobs himself borrowed the idea from the Xerox Palo Alto Research Centre. Remarkably, Xerox also borrowed it from an unknown academic researcher who possibly borrowed it somewhere. So, think of what you can borrow to bring about new packages of innovative ideas, products or services. Paago Aleele Imabel gives this memorable gem for whoever cares.

“I will imitate my way to greatness. I will sing like Don Moen or Frank Edwards until I make my impact. I will write like Chimamanda Adichie or Max Lucado until I make my impact. I will sell like Dangote, preach like T.D. Jakes, pray like Enoch Adeboye, lead like Mandela and copy all the other greats that have gone ahead of me until I hit the marks they hit and then I will surpass it, because I will add just a little to their style and that will be become my original.”