Creativity is a word that flows through many spheres today. Everybody seems to have jumped aboard the “Creativity Express” and there are enough workshops, seminars, programmes and classes that promise to teach one to be “creative.” While these may provide a framework for thought, creativity is perhaps more simple and natural than we like to believe.
Many years ago, a conversation with my student helped me gain insights into what creativity is believed to be. She felt that she was not as creative as many of the students in her class. There was an anxiety in her to be creative, and the more she worked with this state of mind, the further the horizon of creativity seemed to appear.
Step outThe word, creativity, is often shrouded with the veneer of Romantic Idealism. In our mind’s eye, we see artists, writers, painters as extolling the virtues of creativity in their processes: The Salvador Dalis and Hussains who work endlessly into the nights and days to create their masterpieces. Flaubert, the novelist, used to read out passages of his novel endlessly, so that he would get the rhythm of the cadence of his words perfect. Sages wrote vast epics through various signs of divine intervention. The spirit of many of these creators defied social convention, and they lived their lives for the sake of art and art alone. These ideas ferment our notions of creativity and often we place ourselves in the role of bystanders in the process. To realise that we are all creative beings requires one to step out of one’s comfort zone and observe life processes.
It’s everywhereA walk in your neighbourhood will reveal an entire canvas of creative space: The precise geometric patterns of the Kolam that are traced every morning by women on their doorsteps. The way a mechanic handles basic tools to get your cycle working again. Children playing cricket with handmade bats in a crowded street. The way pavements get hijacked by street food vendors who assemble and dismantle their wares with consumed ease. A college student studying under the street lamp. Courting couples who find moments of privacy in the midst of inquisitive neighbours and intrusive policemen. The cycle of creativity is endless. It is the ability to use space, with limited resources, to create beauty or to sustain a functional need. It seems to shine when we are placed in situations where limited resources often stretch us to find solutions. It works in extraordinary ways — in a village in Rajasthan, illiterate adult women learnt the alphabet by inscribing the script on pots so that they could learn it while they walked in a line to the water well!
Information ageIn the information age we live in, it is a creative challenge to filter excessive information. Rolf Dobelli in his wonderful book called, The Art of Thinking Clearly details how we can suffer from an information bias. How much information do we really need to arrive at a decision? How much of that information directly affected the outcome of your decision. Does too much information paralyse one’s ability to make a decision? These are interesting questions to ponder over as we introspect our own patterns of behaviour. Perhaps creativity could then be viewed as how we process the facts to add up to our own experiential wisdom. My great grandmother is testimony to this — she managed an ancestral home, the workers and their remunerations, kept track of the exact number of coconuts collected in a day and even developed some easier irrigation methods to water the vast fields. With skeletal basic information sourced from people and observation, she had made a leap of faith, translating all that into action.
Leap of faithThe “leap of faith” is an interesting paradigm beyond its religious connotations. It means we use our creativity to live life by not being attached to the outcome of our efforts. For many students, the fear of failure paralyses them into not trusting their own inner voice. There is an anxiety to know everything before making a decision. Interestingly, there never comes a time when we know everything. This is not the same as being foolhardy or throwing caution to the winds. It is to realise at some point, enough information has been collected, and it is to then dive into life and enjoy the adventures that follow.
Many years ago, an American friend who had never been to India visited us. Within a few hours into her arrival she had discovered a place to rent cycles, the best dosai corner and a place to learn yoga, all on her own. While she had done some basic research, this was used as a compass to guide her further in her travels. In the 10 days she stayed with us, I learnt more about my neighbourhood than I had ever done in my five years of residing there. Her creativity was enhanced by her total lack of fear of failure. For her, each experience was a stepping stone to discover more about herself. This is creativity at its best.
In the case of the other student mentioned earlier, her lack of creativity stemmed from her comparing herself with classmates and family members who seemed to be perfect. During the course of her conversation, it slowly came to light that she had a mentally-challenged brother at home. She showed me ways in which she had used resources at home to teach him to communicate. The games that she had created with simple utensils to engage him brought sparkle in his eyes every time she came home. When it was brought to her attention that these were all creative parts of her personality her whole demeanour changed. She had never considered these aspects valuable or remotely creative. During the course of the year and with regular interactions, she has decided to pursue a career in the field of disability. There is no doubt that she will add a wonderful creative value to her chosen profession.
Creative impasseJohn Travolta, the acclaimed American actor, was asked how he handled a creative impasse. He replied that he would get into a taxi and challenge himself to get the most difficult and reticent taxi driver to share his personal story! That process of forgetting, of crossing one’s sense of self and becoming interested in another person, was his way of overcoming a creative block.We may not all be Picassos and Rembrandts, but the person looking at you in the mirror is the best place to start, to explore the universe of creativity!
Wishing you a magical journey into the realm of creativity!
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