Creativity!
If health, happiness and longevity is your goal, then creativity will help you a lot in achieving that goal. Many writers across the world, from Pradip Khandwalla to Osho Rajneesh have written amazing books on creativity. Tonnes of literature is available on creativity on internet. Now artificial intelligence tools are also available to improve your creativity. If you are painter, writer, photographer, or any artist, using AI tools, you can enhance your creativity.
Creativity does seem like a divine gift, a spark that sets imagination alight. Genetic and environment together play a significant role in shaping a person‘s creative potential. Genetics provides a foundation of certain traits and abilities while the environment nurtures and develops them.
Creativity not only enhances mental well-being, but also contributes to overall health. Creative person naturally radiants positive energy. Tapping into creative potential brings immense joy and fulfilment . It’s a beautiful journey of self expression and problem solving. creativity allows you to approach challenges with a fresh perspective, making it easier to find innovative solutions.
My father, who was a social worker and politician, used to say that,”When people come to us with their problems, we should be thankful to them for giving us this opportunity, as we learn many more things through the process of solving their problems”.
Children have a wonderful way of seeing the world around them with fresh eyes and boundless imagination. Their curiosity, playfulness and openness teach us a lot about creativity and joy of discovery.
Sometimes, my grand daughter, little Madhura accompanies me in super shop and vegetable market. I encourage her to assist me in different tasks . Observing her responses is a wonderful way to nurture her curiosity and creativity. It is amazing to see how children can bring a fresh perspective and joy to even simplest of activities.
Many automobile companies do seek input from children for designing car models. For instance, Toyota has a programme called the ‘Toyota Dream Car Art Contest’, where children from around the world submit their imaginative car designs. These entries often inspire new ideas and concepts for future car models. similarly, BMW has a ‘Kids Collection’ that encourages children to explore their creativity to play and design.
In my session on ‘Creativity’ in ‘Entrepreneurship Development Program’, I used to give various tasks to the participants. In one of my sessions, more than 200 ideas of designing tooth brush were generated…automatic or digital brush for efficient brushing, computerised brush displaying health condition of teeth, brush for total oral hygiene solution, combo brush ejecting required amount of paste for brushing, musical brush singinging songs as per your mood, organic brush, brushes made from different materials like aloe vera, banana, potato, brushes for different occasions and age groups, economical brush for retired persons are some of the creative ideas!
I always encouraged my students to do ‘out of box thinking’ and present creative ideas, even if they seemed foolish! I used to tell them that the most foolish idea of today may transform into groundbreaking project tomorrow. I have had my fair share of silly daydreams over the years!
Creativity is a state of mind, and it proves helpful for new creations. Curious observation of nature and engaging in prayer significantly enhance creativity. Nature, full of creativity, helps us notice intricate details, patterns, and connections that inspire new ideas, whereas prayer helps us calm the mind and open up space for creative thoughts to flow more freely.
Doing the things in a different way, leaving ‘comfort zone’, doing at least one or two things which you do not like to do, every day; challenging yourself once a week to bigger task may prove to be a first step on the path of creativity. Scarcity is a boon for creativity. Scarcity often forces us to think out of box and find innovative solutions.
I take Madhura to malls, public places, playground, scenic places, and create reels with her on different occasions. Creating reels and selecting the perfect music for them is a wonderful way to express creativity. It is like crafting a mini story that blend visuals and sound to evoke emotions and tell a compelling narrative. The process of editing ,matching the rhythm of the music with the photos or videos and adding creative touches is really fulfilling. It is modern form of art that allows me to share my unique perspective with the world.
Writing is one of the ways to channel creativity. I enjoy writing the blog. Dictation tools on my Lenovo laptop and iPhone allow me to capture my ideas quickly and refine them with the help of suggested improvements. The process of finding or choosing just the right word and expressing my thoughts clearly is deeply satisfying.
I wish to spread the joy by sharing my thoughts with warm and emphatic people like you! That’s why I write this blog.
Mahendra Ingale, Pune
January 2025
