Creative thinking and Insight


CREATIVE THINKING AND INSIGHT

Mario D’Couto

            All of us have our own sets of troubles and problems and it is in our hands to face or deal with them. But the question is how does one do that? Most of the major discoveries in science that led to a breakthrough in modern technology began with a problem in mind or at least something that baffled, puzzled or made them curious. The discovery of gravity by Newton and the mass energy relation by Einstein are some examples that can be given in this regard. So what is it that made them to think differently? Creative thinking!

         Sometimes creative thinking and insight are understood synonymously but actually they are different. Creative thinking leads to insight. Bernard Lonergan, a Jesuit priest, would describe insight as a combination of experience, understanding and judgement, all of which is a process towards gaining insight. How does the process work? Imagine you are facing a problem and you want to do something about it. Problems create tension and this is what pushes a person to do something about it. Whether one arrives at a solution at first shot depends, sometimes it could come as a thunderbolt or sometimes it takes time to form. But generally, whether fast or slow, insights are connected with a series of events, though it happens unconsciously. So how does one develop creative thinking that would help one to develop more insights? Here a few tips,

Associate with children in your spare time

If you have children around you or of your own, play with them and listen to their conversation. Children provide a new way of looking at things because they take nothing for granted. Every question they come up with from, “Why is the sky blue?” to “Why can’t pens have erasers just like pencils?” will give you practice in exercising your imagination.

Watch for deficiencies in everyday life that need remedying

The ability to see what needs to be done is the first step to finding solutions for a particular problem. Dr. J. P. Guilford, who was a professor of psychology at the University of Southern California and the director for 7 years of basic research in creative thinking for the Office of Naval Research believes that the creative person is likely to be more sensitive than most to the existence of problems.

Expose yourself to new insights and sounds

Travelling to new places is also a good way to stimulate creativity. Sometimes we don’t see too clearly what’s close by. Russell Herman Conwell, in his book, “Acres of Diamond” points out that men may travel thousands of miles in search of diamonds only to find out sometimes too late, that the wonderful jewels could be dug up much nearer home.

           It is perfectly true that ideas are found wherever you are, for they are within you. Nevertheless, our minds can grow stale and we can fail to see what is around us. No matter how many acres of diamonds there are around in the shape of fruitful ideas you’ll probably have fresher thoughts if you were to go travelling or just for a stroll or an outing. Going to new places or just for an outing not only stimulates the imagination but also gives the subconscious mind a chance to work on problems while your conscious mind is concentrating on ‘how many fish you can catch’ or ‘how many elk you can shoot’.

Gather facts about your problem

Always define and narrow your problem as much as you can. Defining and putting your problem in its proper context is half the battle won. The other half is how you go about resolving it.
             

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