photo
SHARE | PRINT | TEXT SIZE: ＋ － | RSS

The Energy of Human Renaissance

The SGI Quarterly asked a range of people how they experience creativity in their daily lives.


Imen Elloumi-Hannachi
Bioscientist, Tunisia (currently living in the US)

[© ccesimai]

In my job as a researcher the benefits of creativity are straightforward, as they are for artists, for example. But a waiter who comes up with an easier way to keep track of customers' orders is also benefiting from creativity. Also, without creativity, routine takes over, and that combined with stress makes life difficult. Better cooking, nicer ways of arranging your furniture while keeping it child-safe, or tricks for keeping the romantic flame with your partner alive, all are expressions of creativity and allow us to go through life while keeping our sanity in the long run.

In my work, creativity is usually not something that comes from a Eureka moment. It is more the result of long periods of time thinking and connecting the dots. I feel very creative when I contemplate the end result, but not particularly so during the process itself.

I usually get the traditional "AHA!" Eureka feeling when dealing with everyday life situations--for example, when coming up with a way to prepare dinner or submit a report on time--ideas that hit me suddenly and intuitively. I definitely go through a "Eureka! I am a genius" moment when I get them, but it usually passes quickly.


Assaf Hakimi
Jazz musician, Israel

[© Gangi N all that jazz]

Being creative is essential to my work because I am a jazz musician. Being able to improvise is essential, so without creativity I can't play. For me, creativity is about expressing what I have in a particular moment. If I've had a beautiful day, then I'll play different from a day that has been rough; but, ultimately, every experience becomes fuel for my music.

Teaching music, which I also do, requires a lot of creativity because every student is different. Some students might respond better to humor while others might like it when I'm more serious. I have to find out what approach will best draw out their potential.

Listening to music is especially a creative process because, for me, it's about getting inspiration or being influenced. I would say that most of my creativity comes from outside influences.

Sometimes, when I'm not feeling creative, I'll take a walk in nature or just be silent for a while to clear my head. When I'm in a good mood, I might be more open to being creative, but, actually, when I'm feeling sad, beautiful melodies might come to me as well. So it's all about absorbing as much as possible from your experiences.


Zora Freiova
Homemaker and freelance translator, Czech Republic

Creativity is very important when you have kids, especially as you don't want to have a home that feels dull or grey. It is important to have a creative atmosphere around children and not be afraid to come up with new ideas.

The home is a very creative space. In fact it is much more creative than work. I can do anything I want to at home, unlike in the office where I have to live up to someone else's expectations. With children, it is very important for things to just arise by chance. Sometimes when I plan an activity, it does not work. But I like it when something arises all of a sudden without any kind of planning. You often feel it came at the right moment, you feel "That's it"--it's the perfect thing.


Yves Ephoévi-ga
Restaurateur, Togo (currently living in Japan)

Creativity means to give birth, to create something, to design something, to make something come alive.

When I'm being creative, I feel I'm alive, motivated, full of energy. I feel powerful; it gives me the courage to go forward. I can't sleep when I have a project, I'm thinking about it all the time. I want to realize it right now!

I get new ideas when I'm bored. When I find I've got bored, I'm always thinking how to change--a new menu, a new design, a new project.

Creativity for me is the energy of human renaissance. I believe that every chef, every person working in a bar, has a dream to make their own business; especially when you're a chef, you want to have your own business one day--it's a little voice you have in your heart that's pushing you to move on, to make a start.

It's the nature of an entrepreneur to have ideas, and when you have an idea you think, "I can work on this." People who create are blind. You think of the success--that's the first step; but you are blind to the danger of failure, the obstacles. Otherwise, you will never start. So, many people who are creative are blind to the difficulties: just go!

The way to get through the difficulties is to find the people who can solve them. It's all down to the power of your vision: the vision becomes infectious. People are attracted to the power of the vision--people see your vision and want to make it work.


Richa Grover
Social worker, India (currently living in the UK)

I think it is important to have a creative approach to work and life in order to keep the passion alive and the vision in check. If we are not creative, we can fall into the trap of monotony or routine. What was your vision before you started at something, what is it that keeps you going?

I feel very in tune with my passion when I am at work. Creativity sometimes flows naturally, and sometimes when other things take over, I have to remind myself of my original starting point and where I have to go. I am a creative person even though I do not work in the most "creative" field. I work with children, on child human rights, so that is not technically creative. It can be quite boring and in quite depressive setups; it can be in nonfunctional scenarios. However, it is the heart that matters, your vision and your perspective that matters. All of that is a source of creativity.

TOP