“Creativity is Intelligence Having Fun”
By Amy Crump, TVG CFO
Have you ever heard someone say they were not creative? They may go on to explain they can’t paint, draw, play an instrument, etc. However, creativity takes many forms, and everyone has the ability to be creative in their own way. Creativity also shows up in our daily lives in very interesting ways.
Many of us believe creativity means being proficient in a fine art. But, what about science? Engineers and scientists are highly creative. They take complicated concepts and problems and figure out ways to understand and explain them. That takes creativity and imagination. I once read that truly creative people are those who can churn out lots of ideas, and they aren’t dismayed when 9 out of 10 of them don’t work!
There are also times when creativity shows up in our daily lives. Take for instance a tired commuter driving home after a long day of work. On the drive, they start taking mental inventory of the contents of their pantry and fridge. Somehow this creative soul manages to get a quick, nutritious meal on the table with the ingredients on hand. Now that’s creative problem solving! In another example, I recently wanted to move a very heavy rock in my garden, without help. At first I thought there was no way I could move it—it was too heavy. That’s when my creativity kicked in! I gathered a strong metal pry bar and a couple blocks of wood. By positioning and repositioning the wood and the bar, I was eventually able to move the heavy rock into place.
So contrary to what you’ve been told all these years, you are probably incorporating creative problem solving already. Give yourself permission to try to come up with creative solutions, and stretch your creative muscles by tackling various problems on hand, both at home and at work. You may find your own hidden creative ability!