Posted at: 08/11/2009 6:55 PM
By: Axel Gumbel

Medical Edge: Creative Thinking

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- What is creativity?

A painter is creative, when painting a masterpiece, for sure, but even in every day situations...your creative side gets a good workout.

Just because you can't paint like Van Gogh, play the cello like Yo Yo Ma, or write a story like Hemmingway doesn't mean you're not creative.

A doctor at Mayo Clinic is looking into creativity and what he found may surprise you.

"Creativity is the intentional effort to change what is into what should be. we perceive what is. We envision something better, and we make a deliberate effort to make that change," says Mayo Clinic Neurologist, Dr. Richard Caselli

Neurologist Dr. Richard Caselli is exploring creativity.

He's concluded there are five steps to creativity - motivation, perception, execution, temperament and social context.

Caselli says the steps to creativity don't just apply to art and performance, but to how you approach problems.

Yes, the virtuoso is creative when he makes music.

But creativity pops up in unexpected places, like in traffic on your way to work.

"So now you've perceived what is - major traffic jam. I�m going to be late. You now envision what should be - not being in a major traffic jam. You now formulate a strategic plan," says Caselli.

You take a detour, avoid the gridlock and make it to work on time; you please your audience, thus satisfying the social context.

Creative thinking.

So, if you're in the midst of a creative process, be it writing a novel or trying to solve a problem at the office and it's not working, look back at the five steps and find out where you need to spend some energy.

If you need help executing your idea, put together a plan.

Do you have the temperament to follow through and complete your creation?

Any step in the process can be a place to improve.

"The good news is that you don't have to be a genius to be creative," Caselli says.

Of course, not everyone has the same talents and let's face it, most of us will never become famous musicians or painters.

But by looking at the steps to creativity, we can possibly improve the process and enjoy a more creative life.