As Children Of A Creator.... (In Fact, A Creative Genuis)....WE ARE BORN TO CREATE!
I felt impressed to share this today. I know it is long for a blog post....but hopefully it will mean someting to someone. It is a presentation I've shared at several venues, but originally wrote and presented this upon invitation at Utah Valley University in March of 2009.
Let me clarify what I believe it means to be CREATIVE. Too often I believe that creativity is narrowly defined or limited as something within the visual or performing arts, or the written word. When in reality, it is my belief that creativity is something much larger than that….that it encompasses the entire process of realizing new possibilities, and then bringing those possibilities into existence.
Everything around us was first imagined and then created:
-Institutions
-Structures
-Concepts
-The clothes we wear
-The cars we drive
-All the things that we use on a daily basis were once someone’s creation
Historically, creativity has been subscribed to different origins:
In Medieval Times the concept was seen as a gift from God, or with mysterious supernatural origins. Apparently my belief is Medieval, because I believe that as children of a Divine Creator, the need to create is inherent within us. I believe it is something we are born with.
During the Renaissance creativity was ascribed to human inherited genius.
Current thought ascribes creativity to psychological and contextual influence.
But, regardless of its origin, I believe that creativity is absolutely critical to human prosperity, whether: emotional, physical, social, professional…….the list goes on.
From a psychological perspective the term Cognitive Dissonance is the uncomfortable feeling caused we feel when we hold two contradictory ideas simultaneously.
Dissonance is characterized by:
-anxiety
-guilt
-shame
-anger
-embarrassment
-stress
-other negative emotional states
Dr. Abraham Maslow in his 1954 book Motivation and Personality discovered and published his theory of the Hierarchy of Human Needs.
He describes each level of this hierarchy as basic human needs necessary for wholeness and peace. He understood the profound need we as humans have to create, as well as describes the dissonance (even if not his terminology) or sense of unease that can occur when we do not.
He described the Hierarchy of Human Needs as follows:
1. Biological and Physiological needs: food, air, water, sleep
2. Safety needs: protection from elements, security, law
3. Belonging and Love Needs:
4. Esteem needs: Independence, status, responsibility
5. Self Actualization needs: realizing personal potential. (For example, poets write poetry, painters paint, mechanics fix things, teachers teach.) This is the level where we have tapped into our own unique abilities for creative genius.
In the 1970s, Cognitive needs and Aesthetic needs were added on the way to becoming Self Actualized.
And in the 1990s, a level above Self Actualization was added. The new peak of human development added is Transcendence, which is after reaching our own potential; we help others to realize their own personal potential, power, and self-fulfillment.
Maslow taught that each level must be satisfied in turn, starting with the most basic needs.
Maslow asked an important question about this need we possess for creativity. He said:
“The key question isn’t ‘what fosters creativity?’ But it is why in God’s name isn’t everyone creative? Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled? I think therefore a good question might be not why do people NOT create or innovate? We have got to abandon the sense of amazement in the face of creativity as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything.”
A 2003 University of Toronto and Harvard University study showed:
Creative people are much more likely to have low levels of latent inhibition. Meaning, creative people remain in contact with extra information constantly streaming in from the environment.
The study demonstrated that creative thinkers are the people who have the courage and characteristics to create things of great beauty. Not only do they often create solutions or products, they often identify the very problems needing to be solved before solving them.
I love what Buckminster Fuller said. He said:
“When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.”
The IPAR Study of 1939
Found the following characteristics of a creative mind:
1. Interest or concern for meaning.
2. Greater cognitive flexibility.
3. Interest or engaged living.
4. Accuracy in communication.
5. Intellectual curiosity.
TODAY WE LIVE IN COMPLEX TIMES THAT NOW REQUIRE COMPLEX CREATIVITY:
Professor Margaret Boden is a cutting edge thinker in the field of Artificial Intelligence and creativity. She termed the phrase “conceptual space.”
She recognizes that more “conceptual spaces” are opening today at a rate faster than ever before--adding to the complexity of our lives and problem solving.
Albert Einstein understood that technological change would continue to come at a ferocious pace. He understood that having more evolved creations or ideas requires more evolved or intricate answers. He said:
“You can’t solve a problem on the same level that it was created. You have to rise above it to the next level.”
As I mentioned previously, it has been shown that we need courage in order to produce—especially in such a fast-paced society.
PROFESSOR BODEN SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN BEING CREATIVE:
She teaches that having a sound education is valuable in having principles to draw from, to not simply to think outside of the box, but even in recreating the box. With that, however, she acknowledges the importance of allowing for creativity within our current educational process.
She has said:
“Too much of modern education is conducted in a highly competitive environment where wrong answers are punished. Yet creativity invariably involves making lots of mistakes, sometimes disastrous ones. Fear of being wrong kills creativity.”
She also said:
“Revelation comes to the prepared mind.”
John Schattke said: “Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true, but its father is creativity and knowledge is the midwife.”
CREATIVITY IN THE WORKPLACE IS A HOT TOPIC:
Employers are getting the importance of developing a creative, innovative environment to promote the success of their organizations.
According to Innovation Network 88% of all organizations have either the word “innovation” or “creativity” in their mission statement.
The position of Chief Creative Officer or CCO has been growing in importance on corporate executive management teams. According to simplyhired.com as of Feb. 28, 2009 the average CCO makes a higher salary than the average Chief Information Officer, or Chief Development Officer.
In fact, many organizations are inviting in creative experts in business to help them understand how to effectively provide a creative environment in their workplace.
Studies have shown that employers who can promote a sense of creativity and passion in their employers are more successful.
Gallup conducted a poll of 300,000 companies to determine how frequently employees felt engaged in their work. An engaged employee is defined as one who is fully involved in, and enthusiastic about his or her work.
Engaged employees where:
-committed
-passionate about their work
-having a line of sight for their own future and the organizations future
-enthused and in gear using their talents
The poll found that 75 – 80% of all employees polled were disengaged from their work.
Gallop estimated that if 100% of employees were engaged:
-customers would be 70% more loyal
-turnover would drop by 70%
-profits would jump by 40%
The University of Texas at Austin conducted research on this topic and discovered what made for more engaged employees. They found that:
People who are challenged at work and have a variety of tasks and activities are healthier than workers with repetitive jobs. Such circumstances allow people greater opportunity for creative thought and problem-solving in what they do.
THE SAME STUDY IN TEXAS FOUND MEDICAL BENEFITS FROM LIVING A CREATIVE LIFESTYLE:
They found that creative individuals (either in the workplace or in their leisure) are as healthy as people six years younger than them who do not have creative lifestyles. (This is equal to having 2 more years of education or 15 times greater household income in affecting lifespan.)
A study published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” showed there are positive effects on the older generation who participate in creative outlets as well. It showed that they:
1. Needed less medication
2. Had fewer doctor visits
3. Were less likely to feel lonely or depressed.
CREATIVITY=PERSONAL FULFILLMENT AND POWER
Maslow said if you are a Self Actualized or Actively Creative person:
-You have a keen sense of reality, and objective judgment
-You see problems in terms of challenges requiring solutions, rather than problems as personal complaints or excuses
-You are independent and not reliant on culture or environment to form opinions or views
-You are not susceptible to social pressures
-You are democratic, and fair
-You are socially compassionate
-You are comfortable with ones self
-You have close intimate friends, not just surface relationships
-You have a sense of humor directed at oneself or the human condition, rather than at other’s expense
-You are spontaneous and natural, and true to one self
-You are excited and interested, even in ordinary things
-You seek experiences that leave a lasting impression
AS WE CREATE AND FIND PURPOSE AND PASSION, WE ADD VALUE TO THE WORLD AROUND US, AND BY DOING SO, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHERS PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME.
Geri Weitzman said:
“Sometimes you gotta create what you want to be a part of.”
Franklin Roosevelt reminded us that:
“Happiness is not the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”
I have long desired to fulfill Maslow’s Highest Level, Transcendence. It is about encouraging others to discover their own unique creative genius and then to create something beautiful with it. And, in the process of doing so, it allows them to discover the gift of greater personal fulfillment, power, and passion in their lives.
Picasso said that: “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
I believe that creativity plays a KEY role in helping us to find ourselves and then to evolve into our BEST selves! For me, coming to understand what my creative gifts are has been synonomous with discovering my meaning and purpose, or my personal mission or ministry in this life. It has had everything to do with helping me to discover greater balance, contentment, passion, and peace.
It's been said that "the purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away."
Love,
Shannon
