The difference between imagination and creativity

What is the difference between imagination and creativity? Imagination is the ability to imagine things and build mental scene for them. These things are sounds, smells, images, connected ideas, forms or shapes and create something new which turns to creativity. Apparently, imagination is the mental ability to recall previous obtained information and draw them out with a new idea or a project. Henry Miller 1891-1980 claimed that imagination was a critical characteristic of God, as he wrote, “Imagination is the voice of daring.” The question comes; is information or knowledge more important than imagination? The answer is no! Why? Unless information and knowledge are developed to create a new idea, they will remain limited. This process requires imagination which is a practical gift from God to keep on activating it.

But why do were we granted such marvelous gift? Obviously, for life continuation and preservation for continuous improvement. Imagination can help us to walk in people shoes and imagine what they go through to have empathy for them! It helps to overcome conflict or cop with it when learn to be observant and collaborate instead of competing.

Imagination helps to avoid dementia, how so? According to a recent neurological study, being imaginative creates more neurons in our brain. If we continue to utilize our imagination later in life, we are 73 % less likely to develop the memory problems that lead to dementia.

When we exercise our imagination, judgment-free, helps us to appreciate not only our skills and instincts but also of others. This means that we’ll be more likely to have confidence and trust our thoughts and feelings in other areas of life. For the fact that having the ability to imagine how a scenario will play out, we are more likely to make better and useful decisions to our overall well-being.

Imagination leads to creativity, as the first is when one imagines an idea or a picture and the second is when creating the idea which is the practical apart of imagination. And creativity isn’t only applicable on artistic work but also valid mathematically and scientifically projects.

Is imagination stronger than knowledge? Yes, as Imagination is like the DNA of a seed, without, a seed is infertile as the universe without love, could’ve not been that thoughtfully created.

So, artists, be grateful for the special gift of imagination you have and use it not only for personal gains but also for assisting others in various ways.