Posts Tagged ‘Lateral Thinking’
It seems to me that there is often a common theme underlying the reason why people cannot master creative thinking skills.
Any idea whay it might be?
Maybe it applies to you……..
Fear.
Over the years I’ve spoken to many people who tell me that they simply cannot generate a single, creative thought, no matter how hard they try and so will never be able to gain any creative thinking ability.
I’m afraid that I give them a one word answer…………….Rubbish!
And here’s three reasons why:
- If you can talk, then you can think and if you can think then you already posess the basic requirement for thinking creatively.
- If you have ever let your mind wander aimlessly – daydreaming if you prefer – then you have already mastered the essential element for creative thought.
- If you can manage to get yourself through the day successfully, then you have sufficient brain power to train along the creative path.
Now these three items encompass probably 98% of the people on the planet and, as you are reading this, YOU are definitely one of them.
So what’s holding you back?
Consider this thought for the rest of the day – given that you meet the qualifying criteria for mastering creative thinking skills – is it fear of moving away from your usual thought patterns that is holding you back? Or fear of having your thoughts, opinions or ideas ridiculed by your peers? And if it is, is that a good enough reason to limit your potential in the workplace, in your home or in your life just because someone else isn’t as enlightened as you are?
I’ll leave that thought with you – see how the idea makes you feel and what you would like to say to the people who cause you to be fearful of expressing your true creativity.
You may just surprise yourself.
I’ve been chatting to a few friends about their ‘Thinking Creative‘ and the chat turned into a rather heated discussion.
The thrust of the debate centered around whether creative thinking is an art or a skill?
On the one hand, if it is a skill, then skills can be taught and mastered…….but if it is an art then the consensus of opinion was that an art is an inborn talent and cannot be learned or acquired.
Hmmm. It’s a tough one to call……
Personally, I believe that being able to think creatively is a skill – a science if you like – and can be mastered by following certain rules, exercises and course work. Like any other skill, practice makes perfect and creative thinking or problem solving will eventually become as easy as breathing. And in a relatively short time it will become second nature to you .
But, I also think that ‘Thinking Creative‘ falls under the heading of being an art too.
(Nothing like sitting on the fence here….)
This is because creativity, by definition, is an art!
Just think, (excuse the pun there…), creative thinking requires the thinking of the unthinkable, off the wall ideas, lateral thinking techniques, childlike expression, thinking outside the box, pushing the envelope and any other wild and ridiculous phrases that convey unfettered thinking, ideas and solutions.
Surely that’s art in action?!
In the end, my friends concluded that their ‘Thinking Creative‘ fell equally into both camps and that they deserved another high-priced espresso from the well-known High Street coffee provider – and who am I to disagree?
What’s your opinion? Art or science? Leave a comment & let the world know what you think.
Thinking Creative comes naturally to a child, therefore does that suggest it cannot be a skill?