How do you define spirituality?
There is no universal definition of spirituality, which is one of the reasons spirituality is so complex. I believe there are numerous types of spirituality, but for me personally, spirituality is the quest to find the meaning of my personal existence. It is an introspective form of cognition that allows people to analyze their internal experiences of life. For instance, spending time to contemplate different relationships, values, morals, ect., that are important to you. I think meditation, communication, and certain physical activities can help achieve spiritual mindsets.
Does spirituality differ from religion?
Absolutely. Religion and spirituality may seem similar, and in some aspects overlap, but in general they are separate entities. Religion leaves little room for creativity. From my understanding, religion provides a structure for moral and principled guidelines. It provides the answers, so to some people it is considered a spiritual source of comfort. At the same time, at least in my experience, religion is exclusive. Religion has been a blessing in many situations, but at the same time have causes violence, wars, discrimination and often pain and suffering. In a sense, I see spirituality as the religious beliefs people generate for themselves.
How do you define creativity?
Creativity is the product of imagination. It is unique innovative thoughts that people come up with on their own. As we live our lives we receive stimuli from the outside world that spark original thoughts and ideas. Creativity is limitless, and can be expressed in art, writing, speech, sports, in anything really. Just the other day I listened to a pod cast about a surgeon who managed to completely reconstruct someone’s jaw with a portion of his fibula. Creativity is one of the main factors that set us apart from other animals. It allows us to evolve and progress at incredible rates, because we are constantly approaching the world at new angles and perspectives.
What is the source of creativity?
I would have to say the source of creativity is the mind. Specifically, creativity is the product of independent thinking in combination with stimuli from the outside world. Along with that, I think the willingness to be creative comes into play. Ingenious ideas probably aren’t going to come to you while you are watching a movie on the couch. One thing I found interesting though was that for the longest time scientists believed creativity stemmed from strictly the right hemisphere of the brain. Recently though, more and more studies are suggesting that the left hemisphere plays a significant role in the process of creativity as well.