Theory of Creativity: The Chaos Conundrum

“Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.” This intense observation made by Henry Adams emphasizes the complex process that underlines the phenomena of creativity. The world around us is studded with examples of order disintegrating into chaos and chaos giving birth to order. Until recently, such occurences as the oscillation of the stock market, or the random firing of neurons in the brain were considered too "noisy" and complex to be explored by science. But now, with the aid of high-speed processors, scientists have been able to penetrate a reality that is changing the way we perceive our universe. Their findings - the basis for Chaos Theory is one of the most exciting scientific search of our time. The now-famous chaos aphorism that the flutter of a butterfly's wing in Istanbul can change the weather in Santa Monica is a dramatic illustration of what Briggs and Peat describe as an "emerging science of wholeness," a growing scientific appreciation of how everything in the universe is intertwined. From the beating of our hearts to the formation of clouds, from the composition of a poem to the spread of a forest fire are all directed by the Law of Chaos. "Chaos suggests that instead of resisting life's uncertainties, we should embrace them. . . Painters, poets, and musicians have long known that creativity blossoms when they are participating in chaos."  

A car accident CREATES quadriplegic, cartoonist, painter, musician, John Callahan at the age of 21. "I've learned that circumstances are not happening to me so much as they are happening for me." He knew how to liberate his spirit and to be in the flow. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) CREATES the brilliant astrophysicist Dr. Stephen Hawking. Again at the age of 21, just before his wedding he was given 2 years to live. He acknowledges that time travel is a scientific possibility. Perhaps, this explains how he lived to be 69 now.......

A creative mind is a highly "dynamic system". Irrespective of its surroundings a creative mind will have the audacity to dream, decode and devise. The creative process moves from this primal urge to create, through a period of seemingly utter disarray and disorder before it converges into harmonious unity. Johannes Vermeer, the 18th century Dutch painter created 35 paintings using "two smallish rooms in his house in Delft; they show the same furniture and decorations in various arrangements and they often portray the same people, mostly women". Yet, the limitation of his resources did not hinder him from having a tryst with glittering optics that he is so famously known for. He had a singular way of creating a mood with light and shadow.

The concept of Chaos is evolving from a scientific theory into a cultural metaphor. As a metaphor it allows us to question some of our most admired assumptions and emboldens us to ask fresh questions about reality. Engage in the Seven Life Lessons of Chaos and find organizing intelligence in chaos.

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