What Is Creativity? 

Introduction

How do we define this elusive and intangible force that sparks our imagination and pushes the boundaries of human potential?

This is the only article you need to understand the meaning of creativity in a way that you can explain it to a 3rd-grader without leaving them more confused.

In this blog, we will delve deep into the concept of creativity, exploring its nature, its importance, and the ways it manifests in our lives.

Misconception about Creativity – Big Thinking with no Doing

When I discovered that creativity was a subject I was passionate about, I did a lot of research on the topic but was disappointed to find out that there was not enough insight out there.

Most articles I came across online could not do justice to the definition of creativity. They seemed unable to distinguish between creativity and big thinking.

That’s why, in all my interactions, be it speaking engagements or day-to-day conversations with friends, family, and people in general, I always make sure to differentiate between having great ideas and being creative.

Having bright ideas is fantastic, but it does not amount to creativity. Creativity is an action word.

You can think passively, but you cannot create passively. You must take a step, act, and make that change you have always imagined in your mind to truly be creative.

Additional Resources
1. Where Do Innovative Ideas Come From? 6 Channels
2. 10 Reasons Why Creativity and Innovation is Important in Business and Work
3. 8 Great Ways to Amplify Your Creativity With Intuition

Define Creativity

One day, a lady approached me with an intriguing request: she wanted me to explain the concept of creativity to her without using the direct terms “creative” or “create.”

She sought a deeper understanding of what I meant when I referred to her own inherent creativity. In response, I offered her an analogy which I believe captures the essence of creativity.

I said to her, “Your creativity is like a refined gift at work—a masterpiece of untapped potential, well-furnished for display. It’s a learned skill in motion, representing ideas that come alive through purposeful action.”

I went further to say, “Think of it as your unprocessed food ingredients getting transformed into a well-cooked meal, teasing your senses with their flavors and aromas.

Your creativity is what turns raw meat into a tasty, finger-licking chicken soup.” I guess she could relate more to this analogy because, by her own admission, she loved cooking. At its core, creativity is the ability to generate novel ideas and convert them to tangible solutions, or expressions that possess originality, value, and relevance.

It is not limited to the realm of artists or inventors; rather, it is a universal capacity that every individual possesses to varying degrees. Creativity allows us to connect seemingly unrelated dots, to see the world from different perspectives, and to break away from conventional thinking.

How to be Creative: the Creative Process

The creative process is an intricate journey that often involves several stages. First, there is the stage of preparation, where one immerses themselves in the subject matter, gathers knowledge, and seeks inspiration.

Next comes the incubation phase, during which the mind processes the information subconsciously, allowing ideas to germinate.

This often leads to the “aha” moment in the illumination phase, where the breakthrough idea emerges seemingly out of nowhere.

Lastly, there is the verification and implementation stage, where the idea is refined, tested, and put into action.

By the way, to invite me for a keynote or presentation on creativity or related topics, kindly fill in the details of the invite here.

So, What is Creativity? My 7-sided Definition.

In the second chapter of my latest book titled “Ignite Your Creativity“, I went into great detail in a bid to explain what creativity truly meant. In this section, you can get a brief highlight.

Creativity is a multi-faceted and powerful phenomenon that enriches human experience and drives innovation across various domains. Here are the seven key points from “Ignite Your Creativity” that provide a brief explanation of creativity:

1. Ability to Create:

At its core, creativity is the innate ability to generate new ideas, concepts, and tangible outputs. It involves bringing something into existence that didn’t exist before, whether it’s a piece of art, a novel solution to a problem, or a novel product.

If you would like to master your creating capacity, check out this blog: 5 Steps to Master Your Creativity.

2. Ability to Solve Problems:

Creativity serves as a potent problem-solving tool. It enables individuals to think outside the box, break free from conventional patterns, and devise inventive solutions to complex challenges.

3. Ability of Uniqueness in State and Approach:

Creativity celebrates individuality and originality. It involves expressing ideas and concepts in distinctive ways, reflecting the creator’s unique perspective and approach.

4. A Propelling Force:

Creativity is a driving force that fuels progress and growth. It serves as a catalyst for advancement in various fields, encouraging exploration and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding.

5. Dynamic Change of State:

The creative process is dynamic and ever-evolving. It involves navigating through multiple stages of ideation, experimentation, refinement, and realization, leading to continuous change and evolution.

6. Ability to Be Divergent:

Creativity thrives on divergent thinking, the capacity to explore a wide range of possibilities and perspectives. It encourages embracing ambiguity and exploring unconventional paths.