Creativity and solving problems.
In order for us to able to find solutions to problems we’ve never faced before, we need a couple of things. Firstly, we might need basic information about the perceived problem. After that, we need to open ourselves up to possible solutions.
When we find ourselves in a tough place finding those solutions, one of two things can be helpful: Gather more information on the problem, or open up wider for solutions.
All through school most of my classmates had a tough time with maths class. I’ve always found solving problems fun and naturally I had a fun time in maths. In gymnasium, our teacher told us something I think we all would’ve needed through elementary school. She taught us to break the harder problems down, extracting only the useful information that we needed to solve them. When we had a question that involved quite some text, or several layers of solving, she’d tell us to look for certain bits, in which we’d find the information we were looking for. Then we’d go on and solve the problem itself, with the formulas and methods that we’d been taught.
In this sense, maths is a great way to practice information extraction, or questioning the different layers of a problem. Learning to ask the right questions at the right time is fundamental in solving problems.
What maths isn’t a great practice for, however, is opening up to alternative solutions. You can’t turn a six upside down to make it a nine and then fit your solution. To find new solutions, you’ll need to practice more complex and less logical solutions.
Opening up to possible solutions means playing at times. Breaking rules, twisting and turning the problem upside down and inside out. That generates ideas that in themselves might lead to a better or quicker solution.
In order to start that process, the creative process of finding solutions, you need a problem to solve. There needs to be some kind of friction, whether it be how to design something to be appealing or how to cleanse the pipes under your zinc.
When you have a problem and take the proper time to solve it, you’ll come up with all kinds of solutions that are impossible to enact, just as well as you’ll find solutions that are quite viable.
In order to find your creativity, find the problem. And in order to solve your problem, find your creativity.