It has been truly said, and history confirms, that the growth of theUnited States is due more to independent creative thinkers than toscholars and statesmen. We seldom consciously think about it, but we allshare that unique capacity to THINK and are born with a potential ofgreatness that exceeds our wildest imagination.
We can all identify with the French philosopher Rene Descartes who, as farback as the 15th century, made a great discovery and announced to theworld, "Cogito ergo sum"...."I think therefore I am". We, too, uponawakening this morning, became aware of the irrefutable fact that we areeach an individual thinking entity. It is axiomatic that as consciousthinking individuals we have the capacity to control and change ourexperiences by simply making disciplined choices as to what we think andhow we think. All growth and achievement, prosperity and freedom ispredicated more on creative thinking than on any other cause.
Creative thinking is defined by Webster as, "the ability to be productivethrough imaginative skills" and he defines imagination as, "the forming ofmental images or ideas". Ideas are an omnipresent component of thethinking process. Indeed, thinking is comprised of ideas. Ideas are notsomething that exists somewhere external to our thinking; they are alreadyresident in the mind, or consciousness, of each individual. We each havean unlimited inventory of ideas but we often find it impossible to findjust the right idea when we need it.
How, then, does one access the flow of ideas in order that we may achievethe success, prosperity and freedom to which we all aspire?
First, let's realize that this creative mental phenomenon functionsseparate and apart from the conscious reasoning process. It is theopening of thought to a dimension of awareness that involves perceptivecapacities and an intuitive sense that cannot be measured or predicted.It is known and recognized only by its effects.
Second, creativity is an approach or direction toward its subject thatdeparts from routines and preconceived hypotheses and thereby breaks thebarriers and generally accepted norms that might be held by those of moredisciplined training. Creative thinking is based on the unlimited,unconfined, abstract, undisciplined and unencumbered
Third, in order that one develop this creative capacity he must,paradoxically, be aware of certain disciplines. These disciplines,however, are not rules of limitation or confining parameters but, rather,are conditions to be alert to that would tend to restrict the flow ofideas.
Look at it this way. A soft rubber ball naturally assumes its round shapeas a ball. If you were to distort your ball by winding it with elasticbands, you would have a grotesque , distorted shape that's all bound upand restricted because of the unnatural limits imposed on it by theelastics. It would in no way resemble a ball.But if you were to remove the restrictive elastics, the ball would resumeits natural shape as a ball.
Note this: You do not have to do anything to the ball to make it take itsnatural shape because that is the natural shape and characteristic of theball. All you have to do to induce this natural function is to remove therestrictive barriers that have prevented it from appearing to be what itreally is.
Our thought is much the same. It is the acceptance of restricting,limiting thoughts that prevent our being consciously aware of the ideas ofwhich it is comprised. It's our limited thinking, our blind acceptance ofpreconceived prejudices that restricts the flow of ideas and new concepts.Therefore, it is the opening of thought, and the quiet mental listeningfor new ideas that brings them to our conscious awareness. Theseideas, remember, are always present in our minds and simply waiting forour recognition of them. This brings forth new concepts and solutions toour problems and points the way to new growth opportunities andachievement.
Provide the proper mental environment. Take time to think, Be quiet andLISTEN!
