Featured Article:
Creativity as Self-Improvement
Self-improvement can be many different
things to different people. Often when we think of self
improvement we think of improving "confidence" or tools
for dealing with a phobia, or help to stop smoking for
example. But one of the most common measures of one's mental capacity is
something people refer to as "creativity." In fact, the word
creativity seems to contain within its very marrow a certain
element of cool, of usefulness, of cleverness that is much
more enticing than say mere intelligence.
As a
result, socially speaking, it has become more flattering to
be called "creative." And it should come as no surprise that
one of the most common laments among those of average
intelligence has become in recent decades, "I wish I were
more creative" and seldom the more pedantic, "I wish I were
smarter."
But is it just the "hip factor" of
creativity that woos us? Is it really just the coolness that
creativity affords people like Martha Stewart or Nate Berkus
or Bono that makes us suddenly dissatisfied with our own
capacities to create? Perhaps, but the value of true
creativity is so much more.
In a very real sense,
creativity is vital to one's ability to function. Where
intelligence might afford us grasp of facts or a greater
sense of logic, it is creativity that enables us to apply
that logic in novel ways to build new points of view, new
solutions, and new facts that will become part of one's
lexicon.
On a more personal level, creativity is
what gives us opportunity when opportunity seems scarce. And
I'm not necessarily talking about the way you can get your
drapes to better accent the height of your ceiling or how to
render your flower arrangement to elicit more wows from your
in-laws. I'm talking about making life easier, more
interesting, more fun, and less stressful. Why less
stressful? Because creativity makes life more manageable.
Imagine having the innate ability to run into
blockages in relationships, finances, and business dealings,
and walking away knowing that within your grasp is a truly
marvelous solution. This is power. Real power. And it
affords you a certain… well… coolness.
Through the
years, I've heard many people claim that creativity is more
valuable than knowledge because facts can be learned and
creativity cannot. But, stay tuned and I will show you ways
in which you can increase your creativity, just as you may
do yoga to increase your flexibility or do ellipticals to
increase your stamina...
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