Creativity: the ability to go beyond the expected

Many of us might think that creativity is the ability to show artistic skill and expertise - to design a beautiful dress, paint a masterpiece, write a poem or design and develop something new.  Creativity does include all of these things, but does also include characteristics and traits that we often regard as basic or fundamental and not belonging to the categories of creativity, art and innovation.

I'm referring to the ability to not necessarily design but appreciate a beautiful dress, to be able to differentiate between the different brush strokes, use of colour and contrast in a painting, to read a poem from the heart and to identify areas that might be improved regarding a new invention - to apply creativity in another, 'mindful' way, perhaps.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi stated in 'The Creative Personality', Psychology Today that "creative individuals are remarkable for their ability to adapt to almost any situation and to make do with whatever is at hand to reach their goals".

 

Creativity in this sense is therefore not limited to the ability to show artistic skill.  It is defined as having the ability to use whatever means, skills and opportunities available to one's disposal to ensure that a goal is reached.

 

Csikszentmihalyi mentioned characteristics of creative individuals which I found to be quite interesting: 

• "Creative people are both rebellious and conservative".
• "Most creative people are very passionate about their work, yet they can be extremely objective about it as well".
• "Creative people's openness and sensitivity often exposes them to suffering and pain, yet also to a great deal of enjoyment".
• "Creative people combine playfulness and discipline, or responsibility and irresponsibility".
• "Creative people alternate between imagination and fantasy, and a rooted sense of reality".
• "Creative people tend to be both extroverted and introverted".
• "Creative people are humble and proud at the same time".
• "Creative people, to an extent, escape rigid gender role stereotyping".

We all have varying degrees of creativity within us and I do believe that it is an ability that can be further enhanced and developed.  Let's throw our fears aside and explore, go beyond - be creative!