HELIOLITH

“The difference between a genius and an ordinary person is not genetic potential, but the ability to direct day-dreaming,” says Tony Buzan. He’s the man who invented mind maps - the spider-like diagrams now found in every classroom and boardroom… His guiding principle is that we are not stuck with the same IQ for life: the skills involved in thinking are not God-given, but can be trained.

I’m wary of corporate consultants who make ridiculous sums of money by coming in and teaching suits team-building games and gimmicks for breaking out of the redundant cubicle lifestyle. Still, after reading “this” article in England’s Independent Online, I find myself agreeing with a few of the core ideas put forth by the 4 creative thinkers profiled in the article.

I was disappointed they chose 4 men and no women, especially when we’re talking about getting away from excessively linear thinking (typically excessive linearity is often associated with men). I wonder if we used a more global panel of judges to select creative pioneers, how different the array would have looked.

Much of intelligence is clearly learned, and holistic non-linear thought spawns not only invention, but creative intelligence itself. In a Wired Magazine’s article last December, Daniel H Pink republished a section of his book Adapted from A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age. It seems like for many years now, people have speculated about the replacemnent of humans by machines, often with sesationalistic aims. In Pink’s article, he argues that computers (along with outsourcing) are replacing many tasks that can be ascribed a set of rules. He argues that, “If the Industrial Age was built on people’s backs, and the Information Age on people’s left hemispheres, the Conceptual Age is being built on people’s right hemispheres.”

I’m not sure if I subscribe to the whole concept of these ‘ages’ since so much of the world remains focused on survival. What’s missing for me is a link between this renaissance in creative-intuitive intelligence and a simultaneous reduction in resource consumption; then it would be smart.

I’m aware that to some, the overly pop-psychology aspect of right- versus left- brain dominant people is overhyped, but research continues to discover sound connections. I cannot help but optimistically add to the vision that spiritual and emotional wisdom are included in a renaissance of whole-brain synergy. True intelligence to me is not only the ability to make patterns and create meaning from chaos, but the evolution of the individual in society as one who is focused on contributing to the greater good of all beings.