Creativity is the quality of being
creative. It is the ability to use the imagination to develop new and original
ideas or things, especially in an artistic context. Creativity is inherent in
every human being. It is an innate quality that exists in each one of us. Throughout
life opportunities present themselves, often disguised as challenges, which
require our responding to them in a creative way. In fact, one dictionary
defines creativity as making imaginative use of the limited resources
available.
Features of Creativity
1. Creativity
comes from knowing The Creator.
I have realized that the best way
to be creative is to know God, The Ultimate Creator. You may as well say, “I
create because I’m a creature that knows The Creator”.
2. Every
person is creative.
God created the universe and
created man. He put in man His creative nature and empowered him to continue
the work of creation. Hence it is in every person to be creative. The
expression of creativity will however no doubt differ from person to person.
For one it will be in poetry, for another music and yet another one in
drawing/painting.
3. Creativity
is a muscle that grows with exercise.
Creativity starts with baby steps.
The process can indeed be likened to that of a young one who grows to maturity.
One has to have courage to stand and start taking baby steps. As you take the
baby steps you realize you actually can create. Success in the little steps
buoys up one’s confidence. It also offers an opportunity to be pruned through
constructive criticism. It is critical though to make the initial step, however
faulty.
Having taken the first steps also
presents one with the possibility of meeting others along the way who can
complement you in the particular area of creativity.
4. The
environment you are in determines what lives or dies in you.
Creativity involves coming up with
new ideas, artistic expressions or inventions. This starts in the mind as a seed thought. At each point in time, there are thoughts crossing
our minds – good and/or bad. Some thoughts come to fruition while others die
depending on the environment. It therefore
becomes important to maintain around us an environment that fosters creativity.
