“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.”
