Creativity is defined in many ways. The best definition I know was written in 1966 by Francis Harmer Brown, then Creative Director at S.H.Benson Ltd. His description was “The ability to perceive relationships”. If you develop your creative thinking by focusing on that you will soon enjoy a significant skill that AI does not possess.
You will also read somewhere that Originality is a key ingredient of creativity. Very little in life is truly original so it may be Relative or Contextual Originality that is meant. Another good but rather pompous definition is Cognitive Flexibility. This describes the requirements of the mind for creative thinking rather than what it is. Does a definition matter?
Yes, I think so. We are talking about one of humankind’s outstanding gifts. If we don’t define it well we will never know if it is being overtaken by Artificial Intelligence. If AI becomes truly creative the human species will be replaced by it. From what I have experienced in 93 years of human life I think that would be a sad technological outcome. What can a robot feel? Nothing. But it can simulate feelings with increasing credibility. At what point will we be unable to distinguish between genuine and imitation feelings? Are we already near that point?
Creative thinking is important so it is vital that we cultivate it as fast as possible to stay human. What will quickly help to make you more creative? Seven things matter most.
Your level of intelligence. Discover and develop it.
Be interested in as many things as you can.
Look for creativity in other people’s communications.
Learn more about many of the things you now take for granted.
Try being creative – and fail. Every risk is a triumph. Every failure is a lesson.
Let other people share your attempts at creativity. If they tease you, laugh.
Exercise more – it is proven to stimulate the brain cells.
Here’s a very simple creative test. Look at a glass of water. What is the relationship between the water and the glass? That’s easy isn’t it? Excellent. Now tell me what is the relationship between a pretty girl’s earring and the tail fin of a Boeing jet plane. Not so simple but figure it out. When you do, you are being creative. Now invent your own test.
Your creative ability will grow if you focus on it, look for creativity in everything you see and determine that you will become good at it. It’s a skill, not a gift. I knew a man whose life was so dysfunctional that he sometimes went to the office in the city of London in his pyjamas. His creativity was tops. He said “Thin cotton material lets creativity creep into my soul.”
Are you sure you don’t believe that?
Whatever your answer, try harder.
You’ll win in the end.
Good morning
John Bittleston
Please do share your views about creativity at [email protected].
We have to work at being creative all the time too.
20 August 2025
