What Shapes Creativity?

Researchers agree more data is needed to achieve a more complete picture of the effects of genes and environment on creativity. Nevertheless, in the absence of definitive data, we can promote creativity by how we perceive it.

For some reason when I listen to people talk, they associate creativity with artists or inventors. Rarely do they talk about creative physical therapists, farmers, or chemists, yet these professionals rely heavily on creative thinking. Creativity is infinite. It has no boundaries. So, someone with the ability to choreograph movement could be good at designing traffic patterns or theme park pathways.

Additionally, creativity is treated as a non-essential, amorphous phenomenon. Contrarily, it is quite concrete and we rely on it to live. Creativity is the process of turning what we imagine into reality. Using it is our right and responsibility. We can use creative strategies to build a carbon capturing device that ultimately saves the world or pack a lunch so engaging it makes a child smile for hours.

Creativity is something we practice all the time, not something we store on a shelf for the next cut and paste activity.