ABC : Always Be Creative...

"Curiosity is the foundation of creative thought."

There are different levels of creative thinking. Each successive step involves more cognitive sophistication.

Discover: - It starts out basic. You notice an effect and you connect it with a use. For example, an ancient human may have noticed that a log rolled along when they stood on it. This discovery made them realise that the rolling action might be helpful when they’re trying to move something heavy.

Produce: - The next step is being able to reproduce the effect when you need it. For example, the group of ancient humans want to move a large flat boulder. It’s too heavy for them all to carry so one of them remembers the idea of the rolling log. They search for logs, snap off any protruding branches and slide them under their rock. They manoeuvre their prize home on their new-found rollers. This is a breakthrough.

Refine: - Once the idea has been successful enough to gain traction. It’s time to start improving it. Our ancient humans may have realized that protruding branches can be a problem and that the effect works best when the logs all have the same diameter. From experience, they know it can be hard to find similar sized logs without too many branches when they need them, so they develop a set of rolling logs to take with them when they need to move anything large. They’ve created a product.

"Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change." Barbara Januszkiewicz

Repurpose: - This is about taking the idea and finding another use for it. The users of our hypothetical rolling logs noticed that they left a trail of flattened grass behind them when they were moving their large object. The village will be safer it isn’t surrounded by long grass that wild beasts can hide in, so they use the logs to flatten the grass around their settlement. they’ve now discovered another purpose.

Combine: - The top creative level is combing two different ideas to create something new. our ancient ancestors may have noticed that when you roll the stalk of an acorn between your fingers, the nut spins around. The protruding stalk demonstrates the principle of the axle. Combining this new idea with the rolling concept of the logs could have been the very thing led to the wheel. And, transportation is invented.

Not only can being creative help you live longer, but also helps you become a better problem solver and helps you with being confident as well. The creative process invites everyone to be creative. If you haven’t created anything lately, keep it simple and fun. Write your next poem, or draw your next picture without judgement or fear and see what happens. Don’t worry about doing it wrong. Don’t wait until you know it all or have it all. Just ease in and and take advantage of everything creativity has to offer.

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." Franklin D. Roosevelt

Life is beautiful.

Global Goodwill Ambassador (India)