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Creativity
You may be aware of the words 'Eureka ……. Eureka
……', and yet unaware about its relation with creativity.
King Hiero decided to place a golden crown in the temple
as a gesture of thanks - offering to Gods after he won the throne of
Syracuse. He made a contact at a fixed price and weighed out the gold for
the contractor at the royal scale. The contractor worked on the given gold
and delivered a beautiful crown equal to the weight of the gold given to
him. Later, a charge was made that the contractor had removed the gold and
added silver instead, to keep the weight equal. The king became furious
and asked Archimedes to find out the facts.
It was a big problem for Archimedes as he knew little
about the ways to answer this problem of the king. Yet he kept on thinking
about some kind of solution to establish if the contractor had stolen the
gold. While he was working on the problem in his mind he happened to go
into a bath and noticed that when he got into the bath-tub, exactly the
same amount of water flowed over the side as the volume of his body that
was under water. This (accidental) observation gave him a clue to the
solution. He jumped out of tub and in a rush of joy, he ran naked,
shouting loudly 'Eureka … Eureka …' (i.e., I have found it ……,
I have found it …….).
Archimedes could scientifically prove that the contractor
had cheated the king. The silver in the crown, having a larger volume than
an equal weight of gold, made the crown displaced more water than it would
have, had it been made of pure gold.
Archimedes seemed to have found the novel and unique
solution magically (all of sudden), but the truth is that even in bath
tub, he was working on the problem (unconsciously) without being aware of
it. In this example the process of Creativity (Creative thinking)
is clearly seen. It refers to mental process that leads to solutions,
ideas, artistic forms, theories or products that are novel and unique.
Creative thinking involves the manipulation of images and other symbolic
elements; the elements are rearranged (bypass) to achieve some goal in
such a way that the pattern of symbols is totally new. It may be
surprising how many great principles and ideas were achieved in buses,
bathrooms, and bedrooms. Obviously, these are the places where the
individual is relaxed and under little pressure.
Usually, even though it seems that creative solution to a
problem has emerged all of a sudden, it is not so. Creative process takes
(quite often) certain sequential step: (i) problem recognition (ii)
preparation (iii) inculcation (iv) illumination (v) verification and
evaluation. If for instance the solution to the problem does not stand
verification, one goes back (unconsciously) to the beginning (step I) and
repeats the process or else the final solution is accepted.
One may improve creativity by:
(a)
Providing
specific instruction in creative thinking as divergent thinking is in
focus of such a process.
(b)
Fostering
openness to new experiences.
(c)
Providing
consigned and favorable social environment.
You may also improve your creativity by putting your
thoughts and mind to proper use. For such achievement, you apply wings
to your thoughts but not to wonder around and day-dream. Practice to
think in divergent manners and unique ways to solve your problems.
Diversion does not necessarily imply perversion or revolt. It only
provides bigger challenge and more stimulation to your brain to work more
independently. Remember, everyone has this
potential. What you have
to do is to put yourself in the situations where you have no common
solution to the problem. Give your mind some exercise - the only way to be
Creative is to think Creatively.