How Can I Create A Creative Me?

February, 2012

"Let's see, how can I create a creative me?"

Last year, a close friend and I were walking and she made a comment about wanting to learn how to paint using watercolors. She also said that she has never been able to create a painting that is good. After talking about all of the creative things she wanted to do, but never did, she then summarily stated: “I simply am not creative!”

"I'm an impressionist artist, are you impressed?"

I responded by saying that I thought creativity could be learned, and if one’s standards for a creative endeavor, like painting, were lowered, then that person could create a good painting. I used examples of impressionism and cubism which, from my point of view, have standards that allow the result to not look like a photo of the model used for the painting. Also, in reference to standards, I think the artist should set her/his own standards. This is especially true when the artist is creating for her/himself.

Creative people are not born creative. In other words, I don’t think the nature-part of us dictates our creativity, but I do think the nurture-part plays a role. Children, who are raised in an environment which stifles their creativity by forcing them to live up to unreasonable standards, will tend to think they aren’t able to create art. They will not attempt to create, therefore exemplifying the old adage of, “use it or lose it.” They don’t use their creative thinking and therefore, lose it! :-(

Creativity requires us to use our creative mind. Think of the creative mind as a muscle. If you don’t use a muscle, it will become weak and eventually, will be unable to perform as it normally would. We all know that exercising our muscles make them stronger. The same is true for our “creative mind.”

So, what should we do in order to become a painter, musician, sculptor, builder, writer, cook, dancer, etc….? Well, one thing we shouldn’t do is nothing. The best way to become more creative is to create. Generate lots of ideas and decide, using your own standards, which ones to keep. Break a routine and do something differently.

How do you exercise your creative mind? One way is to get a brush, some watercolor and a surface to paint on and paint!

Generally, creativity means change and doing something in a different way. In other words, lots of BS! Now, I know what you are most likely thinking when I used BS. No, it doesn’t mean BullS**t, but instead, BrainStorming. :-)

So, what should you do if you want to paint a picture using watercolor? Get a brush, some watercolor and a surface to paint on and PAINT! Simple? Yes, if you can obtain the materials AND the “creative brain-muscle.”

How can I create a creative me? Well, one way is to become more creative.

How do I become more creative? Exercise my creative mind!

How do I exercise my creative mind? One way is to get a brush, some watercolor and a surface to paint on and paint! :-)

Do you want to exercise your creative mind? Create a comment for this post. :-)

3 Comments | R2, Ron Rogers, Writing for learning | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ron Rogers

Does A Complex Problem’s Solution Require Creative Thinking?

September, 2011

"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." --H. L. Mencken

Pretend that you have a real difficult problem to solve. Suppose it’s difficult, due to the problem’s complexity. In other words, suppose the problem isn’t something like, deciding what pair of shoes you should wear, but instead, it involves a decision about which medical procedure you should have in order to cure a serious medical problem. How do you approach such a complex and serious problem?

Is this a simple or complex problem?

In my case, one of the problems I have to deal with first, is removing the pressure I feel for having to solve the problem. Usually, to avoid the pressure I feel when faced with such a problem, I’ll push hard to solve it. When I do, without bringing in a large amount of patience, I often end up just “spinning my wheels.” Now, in a way, I over-think the problem.

You see, I will look at a problem from every possible angle. I’ll collect as much information as I can – always, as quick as I can. I then, in my opinion, over-analyze the problem. I often spend an inordinate amount of time trying to solve the problem. Well, this “writing-for-learning exercise” is teaching me what I’m doing wrong when solving a (complex) problem. So, how should we approach these complex problems?

Who doesn't have a low tolerance for confusion?

Perhaps, a major problem regarding solving problems is we generally, as humans, have a low tolerance for confusion. We want an end to confusion and have immediate certainty. This is what we want, but is this the attitude we should have when dealing with complex problems? Absolutely not!

Of course, we want a resolution when solving problems. Of course, we want clear answers. But, how can we demand solutions to complex problems and, at the same time, place unneeded time frames for resolution? We can, but we shouldn’t. Here’s my problem for solving complex problems, as I see it. I over-analyze and end-up being surrounded by the problem and unable to see different points of view, implications and/or consequences. I become immersed in the problem and not in the solution.

I always use the creative part of my thinking!

When problem-solving, we should always collect all relevant information and focus on the problem. Having stated that, I think we should also “step-back” from the problem and trust the creative part of our thinking to help us with the solution. There is a creative, subconscious part of our mental make-up that we need to know is always there, even though we aren’t consciously aware of it. To illustrate this, consider how the creative and subconscious part of the mind is involved when driving a car, deciding on the amount of spice in a meal or when choosing a friend. These examples might use analysis, serious deliberation, different perspectives, etc., but they also involve a creative part of our thinking that comes from a different and “unconscious” part of our mind. That is an important part of our thinking and we should always bring it into our approach to solving complex problems.

Is "subconscious wisdom" better than strength?

So how should we approach complex problems? We should not ignore concrete information. We should not ignore analysis. We should consciously add our subconscious wisdom or “subconscious intuition” with analysis. It’s this subconscious part of our thinking that is an important partner with analysis and helps us do our best creative work. When solving any problem, especially complex problems, we need to use creative thinking. We must create a solution. To create a solution, doesn’t it seem reasonable to use creative thinking? Turn your thinking loose!

Does a complex problem’s solution require creative thinking? I don’t know about requiring, but in order to use the full power of our mind, it’s essential. :-)

What do you think?

Leave a Comment » | R2, Ron Rogers, self-improvement, Writing for learning | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ron Rogers

How Can I CREATE (A Solution To A Problem)?

October, 2010

Nothing (I create) is original?

Lately, I have been asked, multiple times, how I decide what to write about on this blog. As soon as I answer: “I start with a question in my mind,” the next question I’m asked is: “Where do you get your ideas AND how do you create the post based on those ideas?” Actually, what I’ve just written is a compilation of many questions relating to my blog and how I write. Ultimately, writing this blog, in the manner that I have chosen to do so, involves creativity in many ways. I approach writing it by creating a question about an “issue/problem” I’m interested in exploring, creating ideas through “research” and/or quiet thinking, and then creating the written/pictorial post. 

The biggest problem is creating a good question about a proble

What does the way I create a post for this blog have to do with creating a solution to a problem? Well, for me to create a post on this blog involves the same attributes and/or conditions helpful for solving problems in general. I realize many people think that creativity is not something which can be necessarily broken-down and analyzed. Some think that a person is either creative or not. I don’t agree!

I am in the “school of creative thought” ☺ which believes a person can improve her/his creativity through learning. I am not saying we can become as good or better than another person in our creative thinking, but I am saying we can always improve our current level of creativity. In other words, we should never accept that we aren’t able to be creative, nor should we ever accept that we can’t improve our creative thinking.

Ok, so I think everyone can improve her/his creative thinking and therefore, can be more creative, BUT how does one do so? Well, first and foremost, I think in order to improve creative thinking, a person should “sit quietly alone and think awhile.” The key is to be alone. Not alone as a hermit might be, but alone, inactive, and away from any busy regular routine. For helping me to improve the creative thinking needed for my blog, I have chosen a corner of my living room that has a big comfortable chair where I can go to “sit and think awhile.” Of course, I don’t always go there to create ideas, but I know it is there, as a “safe harbor” that usually affords me the quiet place to think creatively.

Just sitting and thinking! :-)

When I am sitting alone and thinking, what do I think? Well, frankly, I daydream! I literally try to dream without being asleep. Generally, I accomplish this by what-ifing in my mind.

For example, to write this post, I did some daydreaming about “what if someone asks me how I create a post for this blog?” I sat alone quietly and daydreamed about answering the question along with the concepts related to creating a post for the blog. I then started daydreaming about what is involved in becoming a better creative thinker. During the daydreaming part of trying to create a post about how to improve my creative thinking, I played, over and over in my mind, the important individual parts (these parts are summarized at the end of this post).

I’m just sitting and daydreaming about the stocks going up. How’s that for creative thinking? :-)

The daydreaming part is like a “brewing process” that produces bubbles 〪〫〬 of creative output. Eventually some bubbles came to the top, or forefront, of my thinking. It’s these bubbles of creative thought that became the important parts of creating a post for this blog. The next thing I did was risked my self-esteem and I “brought out my creation” or “just did it!” For this part, I needed to forget about whether or not it was reasonable.

Generally, something creative will be unique and initially, difficult to justify through history or logic. Of course, after I risked my self-esteem and just did it, I had to feel comfortable presenting it, while using my own set of standards for assessment. But, those standards for my creative output are mine AND only mine. Examples of the standards I use are “reasonableness, sincerity, originality, curiosity, …” AND always from only my point of view. In fact, I believe that part of my creative process is to create my own set of standards for each creative endeavor. 

Einstein – a man who epitomizes the use of critical AND creative thinking

Lastly, throughout this whole creative journey, it’s important to use self-discipline. I cannot just create! I must, in a disciplined manner, have a purpose, use ideas, use and develop concepts, make implications, etc. Using my example of creating a post for this blog, I have to approach it by focusing on my overall main purpose of “writing for learning” and then focusing on the main question (usually contained in the title). The ideas and concepts have to be appropriate for the purpose(s). The point is, I have to use my critical thinking WITH my creative thinking. I think all good creative thinking makes use of critical thinking and all good critical thinking uses creative thinking.

So, what does it take to create a solution to a problem? As promised in an earlier paragraph, here is my summary:

Ehh! What’s up creative docs? My creators, Ben Hardaway, Tex Avery, and Bob Clampett most likely used some of this to create me!

1. Sit quietly alone and think.

2. Daydream “what-ifing.“

3. “Play” the ideas that bubble-up, over and over and over ...

4. Use self-discipline (perseverance) and critical thinking to complete and assess (with your own “created” standards) the creative endeavor.

5. Risk self-esteem and bring out the creation. Put it into action; just do it!

6. Be happy – you know you have done your creative best :-)

I realize that what I have presented here is somewhat different, but please take into consideration that I wanted to create a post using my creative thinking about how I create a creative post! :-)

How about creating a comment?

1 Comment | R2, Ron Rogers, Writing for learning | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ron Rogers

Old Or Young, Why Not Be Creative?

August, 2010

Old or Young – It’s still creative!

Are you of the opinion that the older we get, the less creative we are? Well, of course you wouldn’t hold that opinion if we start at birth and consider just the first few years. As a baby gets older, creativity gets better. Better and greater. But, then after awhile, many seem to reach a peak of creativity that is never surpassed. On the other hand, some of our greatest artists’ (i.e. Picasso and DaVinci) creative output increased in quantity and quality as they aged.

An older Leonardo DaVinci created this now famous “cartoon” of “The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist.”

What about the regular or everyday person’s creative mind? Do we, the everyday people, lose our ability to be creative as we age? I don’t think so, but I have encountered many who have low expectations for their creative output. Often, the older adult will proclaim that s/he can’t be creative because of age.

Society seems to expect older adults to be less creative. Consider the expectations of people who live in an older adult community such as a nursing home. Often times where older adults live are referred to as “assisted living” or “rest homes.” Now I realize that a person who is resting can also be creative, but I don’t think that’s what most assume to be true. Perhaps, instead of rest homes or assisted living, they should be called creative living homes. In other words, have the name imply the main focus/purpose of the living area.

But, is it a reasonable expectation for older adults to be creative thinkers? The National Center for Creative Aging states on their homepage that, “Creative expression is important for older people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds, regardless of economic status, age, or level of physical, emotional, or cognitive functioning.” Psychologists, studying creativity, claim that people who are in their seventies can often produce more new ideas than when they were in their twenties. Another interesting aspect is that the later in life you start a creative endeavor, the more likely you are to continue into old age.

I’m old and creative!

There are many different studies showing how creative thinking helps extend the quality of life. In China, for example, there have been studies showing that old people who are less educated have a higher rate of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. A reasonable implication is that educated people who have been trained to use their minds, stimulate healthy brain activity. Analysis of brains using PET scans show an increase in blood flow to the brain during times of creative thought. There is also evidence that during creative thought, we have brain wave activity that is associated with the “Aha Experience.” When we use the creative part of our thinking, we have a better chance of solving our own problems, therefore allowing us to remain independent. This is a truly wonderful phenomena for those of us entering the later years of our lives. It provides a method of extending and maintaining our mental lives!

Can an old man teach an old dog new tricks?

I think if we want to live a life that is full of wisdom and creativity, then we should start with that as our expectation. From a personal point of view, I know that since the nineties, I have been conscious of trying to get my body to introduce more serotonin into its system in order to help maintain a healthy brain. It has been shown that during creative thinking, our brains generate more serotonin.

It appears that creative thinking is essential for us to exist. Perhaps, this is why we often see those who have stopped manifesting the use of creative thinking, have also stopped manifesting a fulfilling life.

So, old or young, why not be creative? If you’re young, then creative thinking seems natural and expected. If you’re old then society often “excuses” your lack of creativity. It’s the old, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” scenario! But, that’s only an excuse, NOT a good reason! You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, BUT you can teach an old human creative thinking. How? By not excusing a lack of creative thinking. :-)

What do you think?

2 Comments | R2, Ron Rogers, self-improvement | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ron Rogers

What Does It Take To Be A Creative Person?

November, 2009
Painting

I think, therefore I creatively paint!

Yesterday, my wife and I were walking and she made a comment about wanting to learn how to paint using watercolors. She also said that she has never been able to create a painting that is “good.” She said she is not creative!

I responded by saying that I thought creativity could be learned, and if one’s standards for painting were “lowered,” then anyone could create a good painting. I used examples of impressionism and cubism which, from my point of view, have standards that allow the result to not look like a photo of the model for the painting. Also, regarding one’s standards, I think the artist should set her/his own standards. This is especially true when the artist is creating for her/himself.

I think creative people are not born creative. In other words, I don’t think the nature part of us dictates our creativity, but I do think the nurture part plays a role. Children, that are raised in an environment that stifles their creativity by forcing them to live up to unreasonable standards, will tend to think they aren’t able to create art. They will not attempt to create and will exemplify the old adage of, “use it or lose it.” They don’t use their creative thinking and therefore, lose it.

Creating Creative Thinking

Creating Creative Thinking!

Creativity requires us to use our creative mind. Think of it as a muscle. If you don’t use a muscle, it will become weak and eventually, will be unable to perform as it normally would. We all know that exercising our muscles make them stronger. The same is true for our “creative mind.”

Creating Solar System Vision

Here’s a creation representing our solar system!

So, what should we do in order to become a painter, musician, sculptor, builder, writer, cook, dancer, etc….? Well, one thing we shouldn’t do is nothing. The best way to become more creative is to create. Generate lots of ideas and decide, using your own standards, which ones to keep. Break a routine and do something differently. Generally, creativity means change and doing something in a different way.

So, what should we do if we want to paint a picture using watercolor? Get a brush, some watercolor and a surface to paint on and paint. Simple? Yes, if you can obtain the materials.

How do you become more creative? Exercise your creative mind!

How do you exercise your creative mind? One way is to get a brush, some watercolor and a surface to paint on and paint! :-)

Please create a comment!grab-small-r21

1 Comment | R2, Ron Rogers, Writing for learning | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ron Rogers

How Should We Approach Complex Problems?

October, 2009
How should I solve this complex problem?

How should I solve this complex problem?

Let’s say you have a real difficult problem to solve. Suppose it’s difficult due to the complexity of it. In other words, suppose the problem isn’t something like, deciding what pair of shoes you should wear, but instead, involves a decision about which medical procedure you should have in order to cure a serious medical problem. How do you approach such a complex and serious problem?

In my case, one of the problems I have to deal with first, is removing the pressure I feel for having to solve the problem. To avoid the pressure I feel when I’m faced with such a problem, I will push hard to solve it. When I do so without bringing in a large amount of patience, I often end up just “spinning my wheels.” Now, in a way, I “over-think” the problem. You see, I will look at the problem from every possible angle. I’ll collect as much information as I can – always, as quick as I can. I then, in my opinion, over analyze the problem considering the amount of time I spend in trying to solve it.  So, how should we approach these complex problems?

No time for intuition!?

No time for intuition!?

I think the first thing to understand is that we generally, as humans, have a low tolerance for confusion. We want an end to confusion and have immediate certainty. This is what we want, but is this the attitude we should have when dealing with complex problems? Absolutely not!

Of course, we want resolution. Of course, we want clear answers. But, how can we demand solutions to complex problems and place unneeded time frames for resolution? We can, but we shouldn’t. Here’s my problem for solving complex problems, as I see it. I think I over-analyze it and end up being surrounded by the problem and unable to see different points of view, implications and/or consequences. I become immersed in the problem and not the solution.

We should always collect all relevant information and focus on the problem. Having stated that, I think we should also “step back” from the problem and trust the creative part of our thinking to help us with the solution. There is a creative, subconscious part of our mental make-up that we need to know is always there, even though we aren’t consciously aware of it. We use it, for example, when we drive a car, when we decide on the amount of spice in our meal or when we choose a friend. These examples might use analysis, serious deliberation, different perspectives, etc., but they also usually involve a creative part of our thinking that comes from a different and “unconscious” part of our mind. That is an important part of our thinking that we should bring into our approach to solving complex problems.

Creative thinking at a "snail's pace" might help.:-)

Creative thinking at a “snail’s pace” might help.:-)

So how should we approach complex problems? We should not ignore concrete information. We should not ignore analysis. We should consciously add the “subconscious intuition” with analysis. It’s this subconscious part of our thinking that is an important partner with analysis and helps us do our best creative work. When solving any problem, including complex problems, we need to use creative thinking. We must create a solution. To create a solution, doesn’t it seem reasonable to use creative thinking? Turn your thinking loose!

What do you think?grab-small-r21

Leave a Comment » | R2, Ron Rogers, self-improvement | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ron Rogers

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 40 other followers

%d bloggers like this: