For anyone interested in personal growth healing and development the insights here are powerful. The presentation on the Right is a follow up to her first Ted. presentation. (two million plus hits on YouTube)
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Creative development is probably the single most significant element of
sound successful education. Throughout the full spectrum of an education system from kindergarten to PhD candidates to the company training sessions, without this element potential stays in the 5% bracket at best. This absence of awareness of the significance of creative development is demonstrated every day all around us in every corner and sector of society. Creative development is what underscores the meaning, value and purpose of education, it infuses learning with personal meaning, it does the same for careers, relationships, business, anywhere people are involved , what you get in quality is proportionate to the quality of creative development encountered in the education system – and in life of course. Creative development isn’t a subject that the curriculum designers forgot to include for the past hundred years; it is a way of teaching and learning based on an authentic understanding of human potential. Authentic understanding is an understanding of why people excel, why people are fulfilled (or could be), it is an understanding that what serves peoples best interests is unique to the individual and not necessarily an academic opinion of what is good for people – however well informed or well intentioned. Many of the biggest breakthroughs in the sciences, especially neuroscience and psychology come from exploring what isn’t working correctly. One such breakthrough came from examining stroke survivors and in particular patients that made a full recovery. Keeping this brief; scientists found to their surprise that the fully recovered patients still had the original brain damage but other areas of the brain had taken on the role of the damaged area – speech, walking, use of an arm or whatever, this finding had tremendous implications for others with acquired brain injury. How can exploring the problem/issues teach us about creative development?
The elements of life, things, experiences, relationships, failures and successes are snippets of an exhaustive list that contribute to a potentially fulfilling and creative life.
The following is a brief commentary on Creative Development in every day life. A Still Mind. When doing nothing gets results! To, grow, learn, achieve or succeed in life it is generally accepted that one needs to be enthusiastically doing things to accomplish satisfactory results. Saints and Philosophical scholars have, over several thousand years advocated for the powerful beneficial effects of stilling the mind. Even if we choose to ignore all of them and take our lead from modern science, what you will discover is that developing the skill / habit of quietening the mind can have a major positive effect on mental processing. The scientific explanation for this is mind boggling complex, so I won’t bother you with it (couldn't if I tried). A possible simple explanation is that experiencing quiet uninterrupted stillness of mind is a pleasant antidote to the hustle and bustle of life. Through repetitive practice this peaceful, pleasant state develops into a welcomed habit. This new habit causes the brain to avoid or dismiss thoughts that are contrary to the new statuesque of a brain that has become accustomed to the nicer option of peace of mind. Stilling the mind is like debugging your PC; it will operate smoother, faster and be more reliable allowing creative juices to more freely flow. Like Minded Quality of ‘like’ = Quality of flow. The context here is not like-minded people but the full scale from like to absolutely detest regarding all things and matters that constitute an individual’s life. From food, clothes, choice of car to the people we hang out with feature somewhere along the scale. The majority of one’s likes and dislikes are of minor consequence; however there are some aspects of life that are either positively or adversely impacted by how one feels about them, by where they rate on the like/detest scale. Creative flow occurs when ones faculties are harmoniously occupied in an enjoyable satisfying and rewarding task, if you thoroughly enjoy your career and doing your job, progress and continuous success is the most lightly outcome. The feeling derived is conducive to higher creative mental functioning. Rating low on the like scale diminishes mental flow and impedes progress, one real life example of this is a person in middle management, competent at their job, but ten years later they are still middle management. The person who loves doing a similar job is the CEO ten years later or they quit and now run their own company. Keeping this brief I will jump to a very different example. A student sitting leaving cert, doing let’s say a geography exam, really dislike the subject, studied and prepared well but will likely score low due to the brains instinctual avoidance of any specific memory that produces a negative emotional feeling. This theory isn't carved in stone, a student may seriously dislike an exam subject but it will take quite a lot of hard work and endless hours of study to hit an ‘A’. The easy solution is to nurture a more positive relation to the subject or in the case of one career, being passionate and interested in what you do really matters if progression is what is desired. The following tip ties into and expands on the relevance of like/detest. State of Mind Emotional status = Creative status. Every experience and encounter in life contains an emotional signature which acts like an encoding system. Most of us are unconsciously unaware that the feelings of happy, sad, love or hate are facilitated by matching chemicals produced in the brain. This is why an inspiring idea is usually accompanied by complementary feelings; the same thinking that created the idea triggered the matching chemicals which caused the feel good. A person can be alone, having anger generating thoughts causing their pulse and heart rate to increase. Memory and emotions are locked together in a naturally occurring coding system.What does this all mean? Memory is a vast database of creative resource. Life gives most of us a broad spectrum of experience, the good the bad and the ugly, what we like, dislike, our passions and distains, the various levels of privilege, advantage or disadvantage. Whatever one’s lot is, nature treats all as a useful resource. The vast majority of people have a self established emotional range. Our emotional range determines our response to circumstances or events. A person’s emotional range could swing from calm passive to irritated and annoyed; another’s established range could be from calm assertive to raging anger as a response to circumstances. So how does this relate to ‘emotional status = creative status’? Ones total database of memory and experience is available as a resource for creative exploits. If you are unaware of the mechanics of managing productive creative thinking then your emotions will manage it for you. What you get will be haphazard, determined by an emotional state that will choose memory to match the feeling, the brain will offer up information that may or may not be complementary to your creative task. How do you take the driving seat of your mind and get your brain to offer up the useful stuff most of the time. It’s not too complicated. When you nurture your emotional well-being, quality and quantity of consistent productive creative thinking is a common known side effect. ( to be continued ) The Tipping Point; 'title of the bestselling book' by Malcolm Gladwell.
The term is used widely in discussion on major shifts, political, cultural, technological, social or economical. Tipping points occur in all sorts of situations and contexts, like when an artist, having invested many years in their craft suddenly get the big break - ‘overnight success’. The years spent persevering generates an accumulative store of energy, experience, skill, connections, etc. That triggers a quantum leap forward. A tipping point is reached and change is inevitable. A Tipping Point is like an invisible marker in time and space, an ‘x marks the spot’ of significant change, the emergence of something great and positive or it could also mark the decline/destruction of a system, institution or political ideology. The emergence of the ‘new’ in many instances is derived from a combination or construction and destruction / out with the old in with the new. Whatever it is or how ever it is brought about Gladwell has researched it well and identified the multiple elements and conditions that bring about this real phenomenon – The Tipping Point. I like this book for the quirky way the author treats the subject matter and for the term ‘Tipping Point’. I am interested in the environment and ecosystem of the mind. Part of what I do is exploring the elements and mechanics of mind that bring about personal change, minor or major shifts in direction. I also want to know what will help me, you or just about anyone that is up for change. I don’t accept that a fulfilling, rewarding life is the reserve of the few; I think it should be spread about more. One way I approach change, internal change is by viewing the mind/brain as an information processor. This helps me to avoid identifying with terms like, intelligent, talented, happy, sad, positive/negative etc. I think of these as symptoms and products of information processing. Memory and experience form the database of content. When engaged in the things of life, social, professional or recreational, it is all staged, produced and directed by your very own processor. The external environment, circumstances and events that we encounter serve as influencing factors and further input. Malcolm Gladwell does an excellent job of threading together the multitude of elements, events and circumstances that give rise to a Tipping Point and cites examples of the sudden rise or fall of companies, rock bands and empires. So I wonder about the elements that conspire to bring us down or set us free to realise new levels of personal success. What are the forces that covertly work away to eventually give rise to a Personal Tipping Point, your very own shift in fortunes? It is my opinion that one’s personal Tipping Point is brought about by a natural process that unfolds according to the laws of nature. As this idea is based around what is unfolding in ones brain and the content there-in which is a variety of formal/informal learning, family, relationships, career, cultural and religious influences etc. Etc. I must try and explain something. We out here in the ‘real’ world have organised and categorised knowledge by subject, learning by module/certification, relationships by good/bad/romantic, friend or foe and society is chopped up into all sorts of categories. How the brain organises all this input is unique and quite different to what one would expect. It’s too long a story to expand on here so this is the condensed version. The brain is impartial, like your personal computer, you don’t get a pop-up because the hard drive won’t accept downloading your particular choice of music. Whatever your choices are and the experiences you have are recorded and stored. The brain regards all input as resource. Information utilised to make decisions, carry out actions and know what to avoid. This is why I consider how natural laws operate. What does an animal in the wild know? It knows what serves its continued survival and it knows what to avoid. We may be more sophisticated, but if you think about it we attempt to maintain our lives by the things we engage in, education, career, relationships, accumulating resources (nuts)(joke) and things to avoid, - whatever threatens your health and wellbeing. Through continued exposure to what life throws at you, you continue to develop an ever expanding database of knowledge and experience. Now for the Tipping Point bit; I need another analogy to assist here! Think of the pop-ups that ask you to update programmes on your PC. Your brain is perpetually updating as new experiences intermingle with existing data, incrementally altering self-perception, beliefs, outlook, world-view and so on. Progression towards the tipping point is further facilitated by any activities or practises designed to expand awareness/wellbeing, it could be meditation, a new hobby or availing of some life coaching. Nurturing the mind is like maintaining good anti virus software, clearing the mind speeds up the process and the potential for a big shift event in your life. The constant accumulation of input, fermenting like a good wine is making you wiser, you don’t just know more, you understand more (most of this is going on in the unconscious mind) . The Tipping Point is when your unconscious puts it all together and has the mother of all ah – ha moments, a whole new level of awareness pops into your conscious awareness. This is The Personal Tipping Point. You are on your way from dial up to a broadband state of mind, open source thinking and creative fluency. What Then? Well I’m not quite sure what happens, maybe this ‘upgrade’ causes decisions and choices to be more on target, possibly more closely aligned with authentic self. One might be drawn to new interests or have a desire to expand current interests. One might be drawn to explore new friendships. I think inner barriers are shattered, intuition sharpens, imagination gets a new job – redesigning a life. Baggage gets unpacked to make way for the makeover. I’ll update when I figure it out. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book gave examples that includes references to falling empires and collapsing corporations as well as major success stories. Personal transformation does sometimes involve pain. Some systems and empires need to go. People we like to hold on to. Inside the imaginative minds of smart individuals everywhere, great companies can be built, the Steve Jobs or a dozen of them are probably walking about our Irish streets waiting to realise and materialise all that occupies their imagination. How would you spot them? Probably not in a designer suite or driving and expensive (HP) car, that could be the case but equally and more lightly a possibility is that they come in the guise of a care free teenager whose playground is the world of technology, gadgets and immersion in all things creative. Imagine taking a really bold and creative leap in addressing transformation of the education system. Sir Ken Robinson a world leader/advocate for creativity went so far as to say it didn’t need transforming, it needed scrapping. Imagine a whole new way of facilitating the management of unemployment. Imagine a justice system with a vision that recognised the accumulative affects of generations of disadvantage and social bias and took an imaginative leap towards facilitating and serving the true potential of human nature. "Some things have to be believed to be seen!"- Ralph Hodgson A few years ago some of our enlightened leaders put forward a proposed contribution to Irish society in the form of a new prison, millions have since been spent on this innovative field, the most expensive ‘grass’ in the world. When I heard this I wondered what seven hundred million would achieve if invested in the people and families of those destined to frequent this cage that never materialised. An imaginative shift of worldview might help to facilitate a solution, not an industry built and thriving on the problem at the expense of society. Imagine a future where our then bright leaders were announcing the closures of prisons just like the now less welcomed closures of army barracks, excess to requirements! How do you begin any huge challenge now that money is almost extinct? I really believe if big bold thinkers are invited to gather and imagine a way, interesting things could emerge. Big free-thinking minds will find ways to save millions in ways that reduce pain not inflict more. Maybe Ireland needs a Free Thinking Society. With the billions that we owe and the millions thrown at the problem the government could spent a few million getting many of the great international creative minds to visit and help stir some real change. Imagine if the world financial market and investors copped themselves on and didn’t sacrifice society for the sake of billions of Euros/Dollars of digital debt. A penny for your thoughts, what about a 100k, 1million or even 10 million? Every great business idea, invention or innovation began life as the stirrings of thought that the naturally innovative brain compiled, analysed and in its own time, out pops the idea. If it were only this simple!
What if it were this simple? Before I explain I must mention the paradox between the operations of two intrinsic elements, the personality and the brain. The personality holds many opinions and judgements about the ‘self’, ones level of intelligence, talent, potential and capability. Beliefs about limitations, measure of difficulty, scope of opportunity and then there is the external environment that bombards the personality with all the latest on economic doom and gloom.Now the human brain doesn't care much about any of this. Think of the brain – this organ as impartial in its functioning. It records, stores and facilitates the incoming information and experience from the personality’s environment and it facilitates the inner dialogue of the ‘self’. The personality thinks that great ideas are rare, happen to very smart people with the right qualifications. The impartial brain is capable of producing great ideas any time regardless of qualifications, budget or social status of the host. The human brain is the most advanced information storage and processing unit on the planet. However, due to its impartiality its productive output is determined by input - beliefs, attitude and outlook of the personality.Of course education matters. Education, training, personal and professional development etc. All contribute to the intellectual and experiential resources that the brain utilises. The brain is capable of producing a great business idea as easyily as an original menu for a meal. It is just information processing. You might say there’s a lot more to it. Yes there is, there is the accumulation of life learning, experience and personal growth – to name some, after that it is down to the dynamic mental skill of the individual. Dynamic mental skill may be developed and enhanced by anyone. Any practise that contributes to personal growth, maintaining mental clarity and calm will enhance ones quality of performance in any field. Creative processing is the natural operational processing mode of the brain. Whether highly economically productive or unproductive and dysfunctional, the brain operates consistently and impartially. How does your brain produce a great idea? Your brain will only produce an idea in response to a need. What ever age you are, that is the number of years your brain is compiling its database of knowledge and experience, for one purpose only and that is to serve your existence. Any role you play in contributing to anthers existence is an extension of your existence. Back to the idea, your brain scans your database (memory) just like a google search and finds the best available data to match the need. Quality of idea = quality of all that life knowledge and experience stored in your head. Your brain does not discriminate between categories of data e.g. formal/informal education training courses or special skills and life experience. It is all treated as resource.An important point to mention, your brain does not discriminate but your personality does - so attitude, confidence, beliefs, expectations and outlook matter. Problems and issues of the personality are metaphorically like computer viruses, they interfere, slow the system, affect performance and if you accumulate enough the system crashes. The good news is you can clear the 'viruses' and if you really want to consistently produce quality Ideas then all you need to do is nurture your creativity and you could choose to explore Creative Development aka high speed broadband for the brain. Another thing to consider when self-judging your creative ability; **********************************
The minister for education here in Ireland recently announced proposals for changes to the exam system. In April 2011 Quinn confirmed his support for the radical overhaul of the Junior certificate, which had been put in train by his predecessor, saying the exam is “no longer suitable as the main form of student assessment in lower-secondary education’’ and must be changed. I believe there is also a move to bring in changes to the leaving cert within the next three years. In media commentary on the subject by stakeholders we see words like ‘Critical’ thinking, and statements around promoting creativity or developing an innovative culture in our schools. Here are some more words and phrases; ‘static’ ‘one dimensional’ ‘system centred’ ‘controlled’ ‘unaware’ ‘conformist’, if I hadn’t dropped out back in the seventies aged 16 I might muster up more academically polished comment. People who are inhabited by what could be described as ‘Creative Consciousness’, these people GET IT. They are not only passionately driven by what they personally engage in, they understand the concept, the implications and potential of a life or career imbued with awareness and appreciation of personal creativity. They understand the benefits, some of them speak out in frustration of what they see as a source/key to personal fulfilment squandered due to lack of understanding.
Who are these people that I attribute this description ‘Creative Consciousness’? You won’t see it stamped on their forehead or does it appear in a title or cert, it is hiding in plain sight. It is stamped all over their lives, their careers, everything they touch and the expansive positive impact of their energy on others. If you happen to spot someone that is content, fulfilled, positive, passionate and free spirited, and cause others to feel or aspire same, they probably have it. Some have it, many are on their way to having it, many more aren't aware of its availability.Why do some get it and others not? I’ve got a theory. When trying to understand creativity, many try to find it in what I will call ‘The Symptoms’, Symptoms like sustainable success, the ever expansive products of innovation, the explosion it technology or the achievements of great artists. An uncomplicated, minimalistic lifestyle could also be a symptom of creative consciousness, feverishly doing and accumulating isn't mandatory. It helps to look but if we really want to understand, then I think we should be also exploring the ‘Cause’. As a matter of fact I think that if we don’t seek and study the ‘cause’ we will be forever left with the question of why some achieve great things and the rest of us just dream about greatness and why some people are incredibly fulfilled by a simple quiet life. The conclusion of this theory is; Creativity, the essence/core of which is like a spiritual experience, when you have one you get it, you’ve had an insight into the unknown. Explaining this to another is nigh impossible, what do you say? I suggest a reply would be ‘go explore and when you experience it you will get it. “My contention is that creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” (Sir Ken Robinson) My wish for 2012 is that any innovations or re-inventing the education system will be guided by Creative consciousnesses, or at least our minister will seek counsel and pay heed. Listening to students wouldn’t be a bad thing either (client centred), if there is anything observable about today's youth is their determined sense of individuality and creativity ( more freely expressed outside school hours). Another feature is an nonconformist nature, useful when seeking freedom from the status-quo of 'sameness' and old thinking. If creativity and education is important to you, please check out Sir Ken Robinson video in the blogs – He is one of ‘them’ that have got it. He is a visionary authority on creativity in education. |
John Jessop
A curious Mind always with a question itching for an answer! Archives
February 2014
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