Wake up calls for creativity

If you always do what you've always done, then you'll always be where you always are and you'll only see what you've always seen. If what you're trying to do isn't getting you where you wish to go, then this is a wake up call for creativity. It may be time to teach yourself a new approach. You’ll be glad you did!

Thomas Edison thought it was a blessing that it took him nearly 10,000 attempts to create a truly functional incandescent light bulb. Why? Because of all the self-development and resourcefulness he developed along the way. The knowledge he gained from repeated failures made him very smart. He applied this intelligence and continued to develop it. This led to him obtaining over 1000 patents, many of which still exist after his death.

Wilbur Wright and his brother Orville loved riding their bicycles. For a while, they rode daily to their printing shop business. Yet, their minds were fascinated by the idea of building a flying machine. Their curiosity and experimental persistence led them to devise a plan. Noting details in bicycle motion became key. Wilbur created a revolutionary system by twisting an empty bicycle tube box with the ends removed. Twisting the surface of watch wing changed its position in relation to oncoming wind and enabled changes in direction of flight. The concept worked with a kite. The rest is history.

Beulah Henry of Memphis, Tennessee was motivated to create things where she discerned needs. When her umbrella needed a cover, she simply invented it. When her sewing machine gave her trouble, she created one without bobbins that got in her way. Over time, she created 110 inventions and held 49 patents. She became known as a "Lady Edison" for her creativity.

Photography's basic principles, processes, and materials were discovered virtually simultaneously by Joseph Niepce, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, and William Henry Fox Talbot, along with Sir John Herschel. They worked almost totally independent of one another. The results of their experiments came together during the early 19th century.  When they all came up against separate brick walls, they decided to share their processes, and later, the title of Inventor of Photography.  Thier process became widely used, growing as significant as the printing press.

No matter who you are, if you come up against a brick wall, don't despair. See this roadblock as an an opportunity to change your point of view. Just because something hasn't been done before doesn't mean its impossible. Teaching yourself how to do something new may require discipline. Yet, being self-taught can lead to increased independence, self-sufficiency, determination and self-confidence. You can grow to feel like you have a new level of control over things that truly matter to you. Learning on your own can be as fulfilling as you decide that it will be.

Live & learn

No matter what our age, we have opportunities to learn both in and outside of traditional school. We can also reflect back on childhood. Our early experiences influence the ways we live and learn later and also how we treat people.  Some of us learn more in the 'real-world 'than we did back in school.  Not everyone applies all the facts and details they studied.  Learning what is useful to retain from books differs from learning about emotions and developing relationships.

Think back to your childhood.  Maybe your parents desired for you to try many varied activities.   When children have things scheduled each day of the week, you may wonder whether a growing child's happiness is sacrificed to the egos of the parents.  As a child grows, the tables can turn.  A child grown may sacrifice pleasing parents in favor of appeasing his or her own ego.  Consider how much time you spend with your parents and how this relates to your childhood relationship. 

In one example, a grown son decided not to have children.  He said,

"Just think of how much money you can keep for yourself.  My dad says, 'we spend so much money on you three kids--just one of you costs about $250,000, just raising you...If you didn't have kids you could keep it all to yourself.  Just be rich.' "

Society going nowhere fast?

Young people in Western societies are told they will likely have at least 6 careers, yet school and university curricula are not keeping up with changes in the outside world.  As the result, students learn less about themselves, social skills and how to adapt in societies around them.  What would you think if educational institutions evolved to focus more on empowering young people to develop physical, emotional and moral well-being rather than emphasize competitive test results? What kinds of changes would you propose in order to help people reverse the epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness that is perpetuated by current addiction to economic growth?