Problem Finding/Solving

 "A person cannot be creative in a domain to which he or she is not exposed... There can be agreement on whether a new computer game, rock song, or economic formula is actually novel, and therefore creative, less easy to agree on the novelty of an act of compassion or of an insight into human nature."

-Mihaly Csikszentmihaly

Last week, we focused on how creativity can help us to both find and solve problems. I'm choosing this quote from our readings because I so closely identify with the idea that our culture and environment shape our problems, our solutions, and what is or is not considered creative thinking. 



When I stop and consider what problems I come head-to-head with each week, I can see clearly that these are problems within *my* society and the ways in which I solve them have to fall within the parameters of that society. It limits me but it also gives me a framework within which to operate. - Or a box to think outside of, as the case sometimes needs to be.

Our hands-on endeavor last week included identifying problems and then exploring, both convergently as well as divergently, ways in which we could begin coming up with solutions for those problems. 

Mine took shape as a lack of after-school care for kids with mental health challenges who have aged out of traditional afterschool care options. - This isn't a global issue but based on what I've seen of the current offerings to families in this situation, it is a very real issue in the society in which I find myself. Do I believe that this particular problem is shaped by the culture and environment? If I'm being honest, yes. I think the way our kids are growing up pays direct homage to the state of their mental wellness.

- And because kids spend significantly more time outside of the home than in it between school and any extracurricular activities, I think it extends far beyond any target failure of parenting or home life. 

Do I believe that the answer can be found within the existing solutions? Not really, no. - Hence suggesting that in this instance, we may need to think outside of the box. Outside of what our culture and environment are currently offering.

The choices I've been given as a parent in this situation are to put my child in PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) in which she misses over half her day at school... try to hire someone who feels capable of handling my child's specific needs (I couldn't begin to afford that)... or to let her come home on the bus with her older sibling each day and hope that nothing goes wrong before I get home in the evenings.

This is a problem that requires a creative solution.- Of which I have a few good ones.




One that can make it from the person... who thinks up the creative solution...
To the domain... or the area of knowledge where the creativity can blossom...
To the field... the experts who will ultimately decide if the solution is valuable and worthy of acceptance.

It feels like a lot, if I'm being honest. But the work we are each choosing to do is important. More than important: invaluable. And it all begins with the most basic of steps.


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