In Creativity Challenge #6 I challenged you to find an old book on Creativity and read some and allow yourself to learn from it.

I chose one of Robert P. Crawford's books: THINK FOR YOURSELF published in 1937 and republished so I discovered in 1985 by Contrary Opinion Library 802/658-0322 along with 2 other titles of his.

Crawford quotes Professor H. A. Overstreet from INFLUENCING HUMAN BEHAVIOR

"Let us suppose that in another generation we should become convinced that inventive or creative power, in greater or lesser degree, is possessed by everybody; moreover that there are ways of stimulating and of training it which are capable of increasing it far beyond its latent condition."

As a professor (I believe of business) at the University of Nebraska Robert P. Crawford believed that our inherent "creative powers" could be increased.

Crawford writes in this book about 3 creative thinking powers that can be enhanced and expanded:

1. combination
2. adaptation
3. observation

These week's challenge is work on your creative power of "observation".

Take ten minutes at least once, preferably each day Monday through Friday, and observe as completely as you can with each of your senses and record what you sense. Than ask yourself what you have observed and learned from observing.

The next two steps are optional...
 
a. then combine what you observed and learned to one of your current personal or professional challenges seeking to discover new perspectives or ideas.
 
b. then adapt what you observed and learned to one of your current personal or professional challenges seeking to discover or create new perspectives or ideas.