Developing Creative Thought
Posted in Self Assessment
There are two ways on how people think. One is based on rules. The other one is based on possibilities. There is a big difference between the two and individuals tend to follow only one type of thinking at any one point.
A person can either be a conventional thinker or he can be a creative thinker. It might be impossible for one to be both at the same time since each type of thinking follows a different set of values that make them possible.
Conventional thinking depends on accepted wisdom and rules that govern society at large. Conventional thinking always follows one way, the only way of doing things. It is this type of thinking that most people today find themselves in.
In a way, this type of thinking helps one become more efficient because there is no need for the individual to think up of ways to do things. Once an accepted way is adopted, action is all that is needed to make things possible. Conventional thinkers no longer have to worry about doing the wrong thing since what they follow is always the accepted fact.
But on the other side of the coin, conventional thinkers might find themselves at a disadvantage. As their thinking is bound by rules and is limited by them, conventional thinkers may not be able to cope up well with change.
New problems that crop up may be difficult for conventional thinkers to absorb. It will take them longer to deal with change. And since conventional thinkers usually know of only one way of doing things, they might find themselves short and limited on ideas. Conventional thinkers tend to resist radical ideas and therefore is not an attractive breeding ground for all things new.
On the other side of the coin, you might find creative (or can also be called radical) thinking. Creative thinkers are those who are more open to new ideas. Creative thinking is not bound by any rules that tend to limit possibilities. Instead, this type of thinking tends to explore further and search for more and more ways on how to do everything.
Creative thinkers always have an option or options on doing things. Their lives are full of alternatives and possibilities. Creative thinking always delves on the many ways certain things can be done. In short, they are able to provide many solutions to certain problems. With a more open mind, creative thinkers are more than able to adapt to change that might come their way.
As a slight disadvantage, creative thinkers might find themselves taking too long at times in arriving at one definite solution to every problem. Since they tend to think of several ways of doing things, it may take them longer to arrive at a single perfect solution.
Creative thinkers are also prone to failures since they always tend to be taking more risks in formulating untried solutions to problems. Their ways may be time consuming and may be prone to mistakes. Creativity may be practiced, but it can sometimes also get in the way of getting the job done on time.
