Introduction
As espoused in the text, creativity is more than just possessing certain characteristics. It also encompasses behaving creatively by way of addressing ones challenges in a manner that exhibits originality and imagination. This essay will use the creative process to solve a problem. The creative process has four stages as outlined below: -
- Searching for challenges
Creativity essentially seeks to meet ones challenges with originality and imagination. More often than not, we do not seek our challenges. They present themselves to us as daily problems or issues. Conversely, some of the challenges are so subtle and unobvious that they pass unnoticed. At other times, problems and issues do not exist. In their place, are opportunities to perk up the prevailing conditions. These instances might go unnoticed because they do not elicit the strong emotions that problems and issues do. This stage of the creative process underscores the need to develop a habit to search for challenges as we can only be creative in response to challenges (Ruggiero, 2012).
- Expressing the problem or issue
The second stage of the creative process is finding the best way to express an issue or a problem. This is very important because expressing a problem in the best way opens up different avenues of thought. This enhances the opportunities for finding a solution. In order to increase the opportunities for a solution, it is important to express the problem in different ways. This translates to attempting different perspectives in trying to develop a solution for the expressed problem. Looking at a problem from different perspectives enhances the chances of coming up with a plausible solution; one that if implemented will present the best outcomes given the situation.
- Investigating the problem or issue
This stage of the creative process involves finding more information on the issue or problem at hand in order to deal with it effectively. At times, this stage involves thinking in retrospect and searching ones pasts for information that might have a bearing on the problem at hand. At other times, it involves looking for new information by having fresh experiences. This can also be done by interviewing knowledgeable individuals, observation or even performing research on the matter (Ruggiero, 2012).
- Producing ideas
At this stage o the creative process, one should generate enough ideas in order to settle on on the action to take and the belief to embrace. It is important to note that this stage is undermined by two obstacles. The first of the obstacles is the conscious tendency to limit ones ideas to the habitual and common responses and block out eh unfamiliar and uncommon ideas. One can defeat this tendency by keeping an open mind and acknowledging that creativity is found in uncommon ideas (Ruggiero, 2012).
The second obstacle is the tendency to stop developing the ideas too soon. One should bear in mind that having more alternatives allows one a better chance at a viable solution. The emblem of a creative idea is an idea that is as imaginative as it is effective. The most uncommon ideas are not necessarily the most imaginative. A creative idea will illuminate on the issue it is meant to solve. At a point when you have a generous amount of imaginative and effective ideas, choose the best. At times it may be a combination of more than one idea as opposed to a solitary idea. This becomes the tentative solution to the prevailing problem.
Using creativity techniques to search for a personal challenge
Using the second technique; looking for imperfections in things, I analyzed the decisions that I make when faced with situations. I performed an in-depth analysis on the rationale for the decisions I made. I also thought retrospectively for opportunities that presented me with chances to make different decisions and why I never took them on. Using the third techniques, I noted the dissatisfactions I had about the outcomes or the ramifications of the decisions I made. I also took into consideration how dissatisfied other might have been due to my decisions, actions and inactions (Ruggiero, 2012).
I wondered how I had gotten myself to disregard peoples of opinions subjectively rather than as a product of objectivity. This is especially because I know I missed out on opportunities to better my situation because the ideas were born by other individuals. I particularly focused on instances when I could not explain or rationalize my actions. For all these actions and inactions as a result of the decisions I made, there were implications and ramifications. Some of these implications affected me whereas other affected the people around me. I paid attention to the effect the consequences of my decisions had on me and the people around me. This was by considering their responses and trying to learn their perspectives.
Finally and most interestingly, the techniques to rekindling creativity helped me realize the opportunities I missed out on when faced with controversies. Whenever I participated in an argument where another person held an opinion contrary to mine, I habitually imposed my opinions on them and brushed theirs aside as dumb ideas. I now realize that I missed out on an opportunity to explore different perspectives, ideas and schools of thought.
Expressing the problem created by the personal challenge
Based on the findings from the personal challenge, I found the challenge was to see things especially opinions held by other people objectively. The following are the expressions of my personal problem.
- Why am I not able to accommodate contrary opinions?
- How can I maintain objectivity during an argument?
- Why do I look down upon some people?
- How can I see past the prejudices I hold against someone to see their point?
- Why do I think low of some people hence disregarding their opinions?
The following is the revised expression of the problem: How can I avoid prejudices and misconceptions when dealing with other individuals. The justification for this revised expression is that I realized I misconceived certain individuals wrongly. I was also prejudicial when considering their opinions hence losing objectivity.
Investigation of the problem identified
In order to acquire the essential information to comprehend the problem at hand, I need to answer the following questions: -
- What causes prejudices
Source: Holloway, P. A. (2009). Coping with prejudice: 1 Peter in social-psychological perspective. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.
- How can I avoid prejudices and misconceptions when dealing with other individuals?
Source: Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2002). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your professional and personal life. Upper Saddle River, NJ [u.a.: Financial Times/Prentice Hall.
Prejudices and misconceptions rob us of numerous opportunities to learn from other people. Prejudice refers to fore deeming or harboring unfounded beliefs especially of the unfavorable nature based on sex, race, gender, social status and other characteristics. Misconceptions refer to preconceived ideas about something that are usually not informed by knowledge. Prejudices are caused by the following factors.
- Stereotypic thinking
- Concern with power and toughness
- Projectivity
- Destructiveness and cynicism
Prejudices and misconceptions can be avoided using the following ways: -
- Learning other peoples culture
- Being accommodative of other peoples opinion
- Maintaining objectivity
- Getting to know people before judging them
Producing ideas towards the solution
In order to solve the problem identified, I will explore the following ideas as possible solutions.
- Keeping an open mind during conversations.
- Finding out my personality type.
- Exploring for inner insecurities within me.
- Letting people talk before I do.
- Taking up a foreign language
- Taking a vacation in a different culture
Of the outlined ideas, finding my personality type is a viable idea. Individuals with the authoritarian personality type have a tendency towards prejudice. Another idea is looking for inner insecurities that I might be attempting to compensate for by prejudice.
References
Holloway, P. A. (2009). Coping with prejudice: 1 Peter in social-psychological perspective. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2002). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your professional and personal life. Upper Saddle River, NJ [u.a.: Financial Times/Prentice Hall.
Ruggiero, V. R. (2012). The art of thinking: A guide to critical and creative thought. Boston: Pearson.
