Understanding the fundamentals

Creativity is the act of nurturing new and imaginative ideas into reality. It is the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions. It is limitless, like our  imagination.  We explore and are motivated to ask questions, investigate, and expand our horizons..Aptly had Sir Albert Einstein said “ Creativity is intelligence having fun.” In 1826, a scientist named John Walker had accidentally stirred some chemical with a wooden stick and rubbed it against the hearth. It burst into flames and thus was the matchstick invented. Every situation in life gives us the opportunity to be creative.

General perception of creativity

One cannot be creative if she is not an artist, is commonly thought. However it is not an artist alone who can be creative. Creativity can be as simple as mixing two colours and observing the new colour, thinking of the right jewellery that best compliments a dress, or rustling up a simple meal with basic home ingredients. Each of these situations  gives one immense joy, making everyone creative in her own way.

What makes a creative person

Primarily, a creative person should not be afraid to fail. Even after having put in all the research, the output may not meet the purpose. However this should not be taken as a failure that makes the person shelf the activity or project. Rather it should inspire one  to think of and adopt other means towards achieving the purpose. Rightly has it been said, Success is a journey and not a destination”.

Once we have our creative thoughts, we should not hesitate to share it with others.Expressing thus helps  identify and rectify the mistakes. We give our creativity a sacred space which it needs, illuminated with the knowledge and experience of others. An encouraging environment is also a great catalyst that helps fuel one’s creative pursuits. When a teacher appreciates and engages and not criticizes a student who has coloured the sky pink or purple, she feels excited to think beyond, which can result in exciting useful creative outcomes.

All one needs to do is fuel her imagination, have a curious, persistent and open mind that tries to identify the underlying connection between things.  Creativity then takes those imaginative ideas and transforms them into something tangible, whether it’s art, literature, inventions, or solutions to problems.

 

The process of creativity

It starts as our mind gathers impulses from the surroundings. These form the resources or the ideas. This creative idea is then allowed to incubate,  evolving in an   environment free of pressure or stress. An initial shape is then given to the creative idea as a prototype is generated. This miniature form is tested and evaluated against the end purpose it is meant to fulfil. Redesigning or reshaping is required in most cases through several iterations, having identified the problems in the initial prototype.Finally, it is time for implementation when the creative project comes alive, which is an outcome of a persistent, resilient and open mind.

 

How is Creativity helpful

Creativity develops the power of self-expression, making one more adaptable that improves emotional well-being. It empowers us with a sense of  self-assurance as we  trust our abilities, which makes decision-making easier. We are encouraged to try new things, overcome shyness, take risks.Socially, it  drives the development of new products, services, and technologies, leading to progress and advancement in various fields.Creativity  fosters a deeper understanding of oneself and the world, cultivates empathy, and promotes positive mental health.

 

 

About the authors

The article has been contributed by the following students from Auxilium Convent School, Bandel: Hridyuti Pal, Tanisi Chakraborty, Medha Das, Aindrila Dey and Saanvi Poddar.