"There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns." —Edward de Bono
What is creativity? In Ancient Greece, writers and artists believed inspiration came from the Muses, and these goddesses held the key to creative inspiration. In that civilization, there was a strong belief that creativity was something beyond human control, and praying to the Muses provided divine inspiration for individuals to create wonderful works of art. Others reasoned that creativity is an inherent gift that cannot be taught and that one is merely born with the creative ability to become an actor, writer, artist, and or musician.
The truth is creativity is natural to everyone and is a process that can be taught or learned. Creativity is not solely tied to the arts but can be applied to any human endeavor, from the office place to the home and anything in between. In an effort to emulate, copy, and duplicate the thought process of creative individuals, many psychologists, neuroscientists and others have examined how these individuals seem to effortlessly possess a natural spark of creativity. Tina Seelig writes in her book InGenius, that everyone has the ability to be creative through different tools and techniques. She lists important factors such as imagination, knowledge, and attitude as a few of the tools that can impact the creative process.
The ability to be creative is valued by our society and it is something that lies within everyone. So whether you’re looking to break a mental block or find the spark that will kindle your creative fire, there are books available at the Social Science, Philosophy, and Religion Department at the Los Angeles Public Library that discuss creativity and the creative process. So don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild. Build, create, make, and be inspired because your creative idea could be the one that changes the world.