Power to Create

We all have the power to create, whether we realise it or not. The environment in which we live in is indeed, well, created by us. And the thing is, two people can live in the same environment but behave in totally different manner. Say, two kids growing up in an environment where there is love, given the best education, and shown equal amount of care could end up differently in life. One could become extremely successful while the other may turn to drugs. Likewise two kids living in extreme challenging environment could end up being successful or taking drugs.

The point is, the same environment while being perceived differently would lead people to behave differently. Therefore the next time you hear someone say to you, "oh, it's because my environment leaves me with no choice..." reframe their perception from another context and you may just create new meanings for them.

You see, many of us are so conditioned by the perception that it's the environment that cause us to behave in a certain manner. That is true, but only to a certain extent. If you believe you are Pavlova's dogs, then maybe it is so. Forgive me, but in no way am I suggesting that dogs are dumb. It is when we throw our hands up in the air and say, oh what's the use, that's when we've just declared ourselves dumb and submit to the 'inevitable' environment.

Just take a look at some of those life stories of successful entrepreneurs who went against all odds and succeed despite the fact that no one, at least in the beginning, believe them or would listen to them. Of course for every success story, you'd have hundreds or even millions who failed to overcome those obstacles. The main difference was not their capabilities; you and I know of brilliant people who failed, it was their beliefs. So, how did their beliefs come about? Yes, it can be shaped and conditioned by their environment, background, education, and even occupation. Then again we come back to the point that environment is what dictates our beliefs and hence our behaviours. True, if you follow the vicious cycle. But if we want to break this vicious cycle, then we need to do something.

And that something goes deeper than beliefs, which is our identity; the "who am I" question. If you see identity as someone who is not creative, then even in the most conducive environment you will still find it challenging. But if your identity is someone who is creative, then even in the most rigid of environment, you will find ways to be creative. So while the environment can facilitate, and of course it could help people break away from their beliefs and change, it cannot be the only answer. The most sustainable solution is when one can uncover that he is more capable than he thinks he is. So, how can one unleash their power to create? Uncover your identity that you are a creative extraordinary.

How can one uncover this, and is it possible for everyone? The answers to both questions are yes. And specifically how, that answer lies in our willingness to see things from a different perspective or in a different context. Jokes, for example, are usually context reframing, which is basically looking at the same situation from a different perspective. A joke where an Indian man who was thrown off the bus because he asked the lady sitting next to him if she could lift her saree so that he can "take picture"; not as in using a camera but because he dropped the picture of his wife and it was beneath the seat of that lady. So, same exact words but used in a different context or seen from different perspective brings about different meanings and their corresponding meanings.

As such, our ability (and willingness, largely due to ego) to see things from different perspectives or in a different context determines the level of our power to create. Because seeing things from different perspectives bring about different meanings, we will be able to find new solutions and sometimes radically different solutions from the norm. One exercise that we usually use during our workshops is to get people to identify a metaphor or an analogy to the situation they are faced with. While sometimes they are stuck in one area for too long, by using a metaphor it brings about new meanings because it is essentially looking at the same thing but from different perspective or context. Oftentimes, participants then begin to identify solutions, innovative and different ones that sometimes create THE ultimate solution.

While, your power to create can really enhance your ability to add value, it also places you at a level where you now set the industry standard for your competitor to follow. Not only that, with your solution, you may have just created a new market, demand, or need for something that people didn't asked for (like people in the 70s never asked for a cell phone or the internet) or didn't know that they needed it. Additionally it also brings us to the next topic of abundance, where we atune our mindset away from scarcity.