Chapter 3


CREATIVE THINKING

By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze


MEANING OF THINKING
         Thinking is conscious reasoning - trying to understand and explain nature and events, by considering relevant and related things and possibilities. Some people fear to think. They claim that thinking causes mental problem or hypertension. This is not true. If it were true, everybody would be mad because we all think almost always. What causes health problem is worry, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, etc. And there are differences between thinking and worry.
         Thinking is orderly and peaceful. It leads to understanding and solutions. Worry is confused and hopeless state of the mind. It leads to despondency and mental problems. While there are confidence and control in thinking, there are doubts and fear in worry. The former can make you tired and asleep; but the letter snatches sleep away from your eyes and torments your soul. You are advised to think and improve, not to worry and harm yourself.

CREATIVE THINKING

Every great man isolates himself
    In silence
    In solitude
At set place and time to do what?
    To think
    To find out
And to succeed thereby.

         Scientist, inventors, discoverers and successful men are known to be great thinkers. Sir Isaac Newton, for example, attributed his successes in scientific inquiries to his habit of patient thinking. Dr. Walter Russell, an American genius, as another example, recommended that people should seek the quietness and solitude in order to discover greater things about life and nature.
         There is a great difference between reproductive imagination and creative imagination. The former explains how human minds are able to learn and reproduce what they have been taught, and to inform just as they have been enlightened. The latter explains how successful men are able to make necessary changes and relevant improvements. By so doing, they bring into reality new ideas, better methods, new products and extra satisfaction. It is an undoubted truth that creative thinking is indispensable to scientific discovery and inventions, and to the general improvement, which is called development.
         Generally, thinking is man’s major activity. Every action of man is preceded, determined and accompanied by his thinking. Afterwards, man does retrospective analysis by his thoughts. Even the quiet person do often have a lot of activities going on in his silent mind. The scope and power of thought is more appreciated in the spirit, where every thought is action, and where time and space is determined by thought.

IMPORTANCE OF THINKING
         The benefits derived from thinking are numerous. Some of them are:
  1. It improves understanding.

  2. It is the major activity in the solution of problem. Without it, many of the problems of mankind will remain unsolved.

  3. It helps man to see the relevance and relations of causes and effects. It will be impossible to study, explain and utilize cause-effect relationships without thinking.

  4. It helps man to manipulate events, situations, means and nature in order to achieve his desire.

  5. It makes possible relevant changes, necessary improvements, new ideas, better methods, new products and extra satisfaction.

  6. It tunes the mind to the infinite God-Mind, so that we can project our desires, problems, concerns and fears to Him, and thereby obtain solutions, ideas and guidelines with the assurance of success. Thought is to the spiritual life, what telephone is to the physical life.

  7. It makes people capable of independent thinking. That is, people are able to think, know and plan successfully on their own, without help or guidance from others.

CREATIVE EDUCATION
         We have learnt from the Bible that man is the image of God. This means that the creative powers of God are in man. Years of practise and experience have confirmed this fact. The creator God is an Omnipotent God, diverse in ability. It follows therefore, that man was made to be versatile - a fact proven by the works of many geniuses and achievers. For example, Dr. Walter Russell, an American super genius, was a musician, philosopher, scientist, sculptor, war correspondent, painter, skater, horseman, writer and lecturer. He was also an architect and artist. Today, with computer every man can make himself a jack-of-all-trade and master-of-all.
         The Bible confirms all the above, “All my springs are in you” (Ps. 87: 7), while Rev. 3:8 adds, “I have set before you an open door which no-one is able close."
         The aim of education is not to make man a finished product. Rather, one of its major aims is to make man capable of independent thinking, in creativity and resourcefulness. By this, a person can think, plan, know, create and solve problems without being told, helped, taught, supervised or compelled.
         Creative education does not encourage students to cram the notes given to them. It is better to read and understand a text, and be able to explain the text in one’s own word. Cramming makes man a mere robot, which cannot improve itself. Even in the use of formula, a student should be able to derive the formula.
         The major activity of education should not be only teaching and learning of what had been produced, discovered or invented by others. It should, in addition, and as its major concern, teach the students how those producers, discoverers or investors were able to make their achievement possible: how to think and develop.
         Majority of mankind are satisfied with daily routine. It is as if they are bound to it. They continue with it because the spirit of initiative and the sense of responsibility were not well inculcated into them. Hence, they consider it impossible and unnecessary to improve on their environments and life. Observe the environment: how untidy they remain, because people are complacent and indifferent. Nobody cares to improve. When all the educated people of the world are examined, they fall into two broad groups: those who are educated only because they have learnt what others have discovered or taught, and those who are able to create new things and find out better ideas. The second group have been the beacons of civilization. They indicate what everybody should aspire to become.

Do not limit yourself or your abilities.
And always remember that practice makes perfect.
Success is self-bestowed; and mediocrity, self-inflicted.

         Examples abound of those who were able to diversify their outlook, education and productivity. Benjamin Franklin was an American statesman, a diplomat, an author, a scientist and an inventor; Dr. Samuel Smiles was a British philosopher, writer, surgeon and an industrialist; Michelangle majored in sculpture, painting, architecture and poetry; and Voltaire distinguished himself in philosophy, history, drama and essay. There are so many things that you can become. The fact that many were versatile is more than an enough proof that yourself can equally become versatile.
         While this book does not in anyway oppose reproductive education, it emphasizes the need to give, at least, equal attention and opportunity to creative education of children.

STAGES OF CREATIVE PROCESS
         The stages in creative work are:
1. Idealization
2. Visualisation
3. Materialisation

         Idealisation: this is the clear definition of aim or goal. It is an exact statement of what is actually needed. Usually, it is more helpful to idealise the best that is possible, than to aim for lesser satisfaction. This is why progressive companies stress quality and ensure the same through innovation.
         Visualisation: before anything can exist in the physical form, it must have been conceived in the mind. The spiritual form originates from the mind in the form of thought, image, design, idea or form. The formation of the mental picture and constantly beholding it with the mind’s eye, before ever it manifests physically, is called visualization. This explains why engineers are able to design machines and architect able to draw buildings before the construction starts. An artist once told me, “Each time I take up my pencil to draw, I mentally see the finished work before I start to draw.” It is worthy to note that our heart’s imaginations and desires are not mere feelings. They are seeds of realities, which are spiritual, capable of physical manifestation.
         Materialisation: This is the final stage when the desired goal is worked out with satisfaction. It is a law of nature that when a new goal is constantly held in mind, and passes through the stages of creative process, it eventually becomes a manifest reality.
         It is not a must that the stages of creative process follow the sequence as outline above. There may be interplay of two or more of the stages at the same time. Moreover, a general creative thinking accompanies the stages in creativity.

A HABIT OF PATIENT THINKING
         All around us are facts of life which some call the secrets of the universe. They are called secrets because they usually appear imperceptible (hidden, not easily noticed), until man is able to identify them. Though imperceptible, they are true and active.
         We discover these facts when we spend time to think about life and events. When we care and pay attention to our environment or an object, it reveals its secrets (hidden facts), bit by bit, to us. We then discover that the more we spend time to observe and think and care about something, the more we know about it. The discovery of the laws of science, like other inventions and discoveries prove the above assertion true. For example, when Sir Isaac Newton was asked how he was able to discover the law of gravitation, he replied that he did so by constantly thinking about it. Of all his great achievements, he acknowledged that he succeeded, not because he had a superior mind, but because of his habit of patient thinking.
         In the everyday process of formal education, many students fail only because they cannot exert themselves to think enough. They attempt a question or problem and give up. But the successful student, in meeting with a problem, which seems difficult, would devote time to think about it. He may be able to reason out a solution on the spur of the moment, or by repeated thoughts and trials which may take days, weeks or years. The attitude of protracted thoughtfulness is called “the habit of patient thinking.” It does not mean that instant successful reasoning is not possible.
         When a person cultivates and practices the habit of patient thinking, he finds out that he can know the facts of life, without being told or taught. Wisdom consists in clear and enlightened reasoning. A person may have problems or questions, of which he is able to arrive at their solutions or answers, without help from others. The student who thinks is able to know more facts from a given point. It is thinking that enables intelligent students to ask intelligent questions or give correct answers. Successful leaders, managers and businessmen pave their way through because they plan very well. And what is planning, if it is not patiently thinking out better ways of doing things.
         A mind that is always conscious of success breeds success. Such a mind from time to time, busies itself with thought of how to prosper and improve. This is why well-managed establishments have regular periods of individual and collective thinking, which is called meeting, planning or brainstorming.
         The Universe is spiritual. A spirit is alive, active, intelligent, sensitive and creative. By thinking, man sends out thought forces to the universal mind of God. The universal mind by thought sends response (Telepathy), just as two persons can converse over telephone line. The response from the God mind may be immediate or later, which is received as ideas, solutions or inspiration which occur to the minds of men, from time to time.
         Religions of the world should encourage their members to practise meditation, which is a regular habit of patiently thinking about God, the divine and life.

ESSENTIALS TO CREATIVE THINKING
         The essential to creative thinking include:
  1. Silence, which is discussed in the next chapter.

  2. Concentration: this is undivided attention. It is best described by the focus of a Camera’s lens. You notice that when the lens is not focused, the picture is blurred. But, once there is focus the picture is clear. Concentration helps you to break through difficult problems.
    3. Complexity only seems.
    Give it time and attention,
    And it will reveal
    Its simplicity
    to you.

  3. Solitude: the importance of solitude cannot be over emphasized. It removes distractions and allows the mind to concentrate. This is the reason why scientific laboratories are situated in silent zones, away from the noise and disturbances of every life.

  4. Asking Question: a good scientist cultivates the habit of inquiry, of asking questions and finding out. Likewise, the creative and successful genius. It is an established fact that asking questions helps a person to know more and to be sure. The more questions that a student can ask or answer; the more he masters his subjects. Nothing prevents you from consulting those who are already successful. It is quite helpful. It is better to ask question where one is confused, rather than to remain in ignorance.
Should a thing happen?
Ask yourself:
What is happening?
Why does it happen?
How does it happen?
When does it happen?
Where does it happen?
And in time
Yourself will know-
If you so insist.

DAY-DREAMING
         Day-dreaming is living in a dream world. It is a state of frequent visualization. To some people, it is a second world into which they go from time to time. In this state, they are free to live, act and express themselves as they like. Many things a person would not do in real life, he does in daydream.
         Daydream appears to be useless, hopeless and time wasting when examined superficially. Contrarily, it is a fact that the daydreams of today become the realities of tomorrow. So, poets and novelists are regarded as being prophetic. In thought, they live ahead of their generation. They create fantasies which eventually become manifest.
         The present day creations of man were once daydreams, mere thoughts and imaginations. Then, some people regarded them as impossibilities, as “castles in the air’’ before they became “castles of realities” or “castles on the ground”. You can dream your way to success.
         Many have dreamt of better job, life, environment and opportunities. And suddenly, by ways and means, which they cannot explain, find themselves in their premeditated better conditions. Thoughts and wishes are not vain things. They are prayers, which constantly pull on God and nature to give you what you desire. Daydream work best, when they are backed with necessary effort.
         The youth should be made to aspire and to achieve. The earlier this is done, the better. The children should be taught early in life that it is man who builds planes, bridges, television, roads, machines, etc. They should be encouraged to produce, to make, to create, to invent, to discover, to master and to improve. The human mind is a reservoir of ideas and potentials, which should be developed and utilized.

THE LAW OF ATTRACTION
         The law of attraction states that thought has the inherent ability to attract into manifestation the idea embodied in it. The actor on the stage is a clear demonstrator of this law. He is not the character. But by thinking like the character, he is able to behave the way his character would.
         Thought precedes and determines action. Thoughts of success, prosperity, progress and optimism eventually manifest. Likewise, the thoughts of misfortune, ill luck and poverty manifests. It is the natural tendency of man to become what he usually thinks of life. Positive thinking enhances progress and success in life, while negative thinking culminates in poverty and stagnation.

PRINCIPLE OF AUTOSUGGESTION
         This is the application of the law of attraction. It means prompting, directing or focusing the mind onto desired ends, goals or desires. It takes place from time to time, consciously or unconsciously, intentionally or unintentionally.
         Many are bereft with fears, depressions, worries, anxieties, hopelessness or failures in life, as though that is their lot. They wonder why life should so continuously torture them. Others are always cheerful, hopeful, optimistic, joyful, happy and expectant. They tend to succeed in life as though they are the few very much loved by nature. The truth is that each of the above groups apply the principle of autosuggestion, for good or for bad, by ignorance or design.
         In the process of successful achievement, the first step is to decide resolutely what is needed. The next is the expectation of what is needed, which is the principle of autosuggestion. It impresses on the mind continuously or continually what is desired. Thereby, thought forces are sent out for the actualization. The thought forces sent out have the ability to attract into manifestation the ideas embodied in them.
         When impression of whatever description is being made on the mind, it is a plan being set; it is a demand being made; it is a seed of reality being sown. No wonder the youths would keep on practicing karate after watching a karate film. It explains why children use their hands to shoot, after watching a film of gunmen. It explains why the wise are crying out against horror, sex and inhumane films. The youths tend easily to emulate whatever behaviour they see.
         Whatever your aim or model is, you have to spend time to think about it, to envision it in your mind. In fact, you have to pre-live it (act it), where necessary. Thus, several practices or rehearsals are necessary before an actual performance.
         Some display their needs or goals at strategic points where they can always see it and remind themselves of it. By so doing, they constantly impress their desire, goal or model on their mind. As have been stated earlier, when an object or desire is clearly held in thought, its manifestation is only a question of time.
         The inner-self is spirit. It is capable of becoming a genius or mediocre, depending on the type of impressions and promptings made on it. Hence, one should beware of his thoughts, friends, peers, ideas, desires, longings and expositions.