Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: How to Find Inspiration in Lifeless Objects

What Do You See?

Ever since I was a little child, I used to gaze at prayer rugs that had intricate and elaborate shapes, where I was trying to see something that was not even there; just to pass time. Looking back, I used to waste countless hours staring at shapes and objects that are totally unrelated to each other, but something weird started to emerge in my head. I started to see faces!!! Random objects started to form faces that would then start to take on a life of their own.

As I’ve come to learn, seeing faces in inanimate objects is a common type of Pareidolia, which is the tendency to assign meaning to patterns. I’ve been trying to understand how and why my brain imagines faces that aren’t really there, and I couldn’t find answers for years on end. It’s kinda fun sometimes when your eyes play tricks on you, where you start seeing faces that aren’t really there, staring right back at you from a prayer rug, power outlet, faucet, fire hydrant, cars, power drills, and many more inanimate objects.

I couldn’t understand as a child why these faces were coming at me and started to think that there was something wrong with me. I didn’t know if what I was experiencing was normal or abnormal, and if I should seek help or just pretend that everything was OK. I struggled for years trying to articulate what I was experiencing into words. Interestingly, something started to happen to me as I started my elementary school that I didn’t see coming. I started seeing things in classes that my peers struggle to see or even imagine!

As a matter of fact, during my first grade in elementary school, I was given a book that taught us about the importance of cleanliness in public spaces, and the book had many characters with no faces! They were faceless characters, so what was the first thing that I did? I started sketching facial expressions on them to evoke emotional responses based on how I presumed they would react.

Reflecting back again, it looks like facial features weren’t the only thing that I used to see when I come across an illusory face. I also saw age, emotion, and gender, and strangely enough, the vast majority of these faces that popped into my head were male faces of people, demons, or dragons for some reason.

I’m guessing that this imaginative cycle that happened in my head evolved over the years as a result of my need to quickly judge whether a person is a friend or foe. As I’ve grown into adulthood, this skill of reading faces became so fine-tuned that I can tell within 5-minutes if a person who’s talking to me can be trusted or not.

I believe that Pareidolia can be a gift to artists when visual stimuli result in inspiration. I also believe that there is an artist buried in all of us, but unfortunately most of us go through life without discovering the artist that’s been trying to break free within them. Creativity is the act of creating something in the real world that we all live in, while imagination is about thoughts that are free from the confines of reality, and inspiration is what bridges the gap between both islands of creativity & imagination.

Finding Inspiration in the Mundane: How Everyday Objects Can Spark a Lifetime of Creativity

Have you ever stared at a cloud and seen a dragon? Or glimpsed a mischievous grin in the knot of a tree branch? Many might dismiss these playful observations as childish fancies, but what if this seemingly useless habit held the key to unlocking a world of creative potential?

This is my story, an aspiring machine designer, who attributes their career path to a childhood spent finding shapes, faces, and even mythical creatures in everyday objects. This act of imaginative play, far from being a waste of time, honed my ability to see “what’s not actually there!” This skill proved invaluable in my chosen field of Mechanical Engineering, where designing parts and solving complex three-dimensional problems for industrial machines relies heavily on a strong visual imagination.

My journey is a testament to the power of transforming the mundane into a springboard for creativity, and here’s how you can cultivate this skill and reap its benefits for years to come:

• Play the “What Do You See?” Game: Look at everyday objects, a crumpled napkin, a chipped mug, a cluster of leaves, and ask yourself, “What shapes do I see? What faces are hiding there? Can I imagine a fantastical creature taking form?” Encourage people to play along with you because you can spark their uninhibited imagination to become a source of inspiration.
• Embrace the Power of Doodling: Doodling is a low-pressure way to let your mind wander and explore visual possibilities. Don’t worry about creating a masterpiece, just let your pen dance across the paper and see where it takes you. Shapes, patterns, and unexpected creatures might emerge, sparking new ideas.
• Shift Perspective: Look at objects from different angles. Turn a stapler upside down, peer through the window at the clouds from an unusual vantage point. This simple act can transform the familiar into something strange and wonderful, igniting your imagination.

The benefits of nurturing this playful way of seeing extend far beyond your artistic pursuits. As my story demonstrates, it can be a powerful tool in various fields, from engineering to design. By strengthening your ability to visualize, you develop the skill to see potential solutions, anticipate problems, and truly think outside the box.

This imaginative engagement with the world fosters a sense of wonder and curiosity. It reminds us that even the most ordinary objects hold hidden stories and unexpected possibilities. This outlook can enrich your entire life, not just your creative endeavors.

So, the next time you find yourself staring at a cloud, don’t dismiss it as a blank canvas. See it as a portal to a world of imagination waiting to be explored. Embrace the playful observer within because it might just lead you to a future filled with innovation, creativity, and perhaps, even a few friendly dragons.

Inspiration, Imagination, and Creativity

It’s our imagination that takes the inspiration right in front of us and turns them into an idea of what to do. Ideas that are formed in our imagination are fueled by inspiration from everyday objects, which result in what we actually create in real life. As artists, we formulate ideas into creativity by converting ideas into reality!

I believe that our imagination requires references to guide its effort for what’s to come, and with no references to guide us, we become lost! As artists in our own right (regardless of our profession), we need to reach within ourselves to retrieve that which has been placed there by inspiration, even if what inspires us to create is right in front of us in an inanimate form.

I believe that our imagination represents the inner process of personal experience that allows us to live in a world that we’ve once imagined. Art isn’t just about doing, rather, it’s about the act of channeling our creativity into our everyday lives as doctors, engineers, lawyers, technicians, nurses, and custodians. Creativity is about taking risks that are formed in our imagination and inspired by the world around us!

Anyone who’s ever tried to force inspiration knows that it’s easier said than done! While we can’t force ourselves to be inspired, we can create an environment that’s conducive to inspiration. Fortunately for us, inspiration is not a static state of mind, rather, it’s a process that we can cultivate and grow, and all we need is a spark of creativity that is ignited through inspiration.

Inspiration gives us both the means and the motivation to rise above; by being creative, which brings us closer to our goals. Being inspired allows us to learn from others and find creative ways to solve everyday problems. Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations by doing extraordinary things. Inspiration drives us from laziness to possibilities and transforms the way we perceive our own strength and capabilities to realize what we can actually do!

Without inspiration, we’d all be banging our heads up against the wall trying to solve the same challenges without much traction. The way I look at it, imagination and creativity gives each of us our unique thumb-print-like signature that distinguishes what we do from the rest of the crowd.

Come to think of it, inspiration is like the spark plug inside of an internal combustion engine that forces the piston heads to move in a synchronous motion. Consequently, the car that was once imagined in the mind of its inventor would start moving forward, which is the manifestation of creativity at its best!

Become an Inspiration

After 10-years of struggle trying to get my company, DarTec Engineering, on its feet and the grueling 19-months that SABIC-Nusaned Investment spent evaluating and assessing DarTec for investment, I was expecting most people to congratulate me on a job well done on the day of signing the agreement, but what happened totally shocked me! People came-up to me saying: “If you can do it, so can we!”

My knee-jerk reaction was: “Wow, I must’ve been a legendary failure that nobody thought that I could make it!” Never did I think that my struggles would ever serve as an inspiration for others that would help nudge them so they could face their fears, get out of their comfort zone, so that they could start living their dreams!

As I reflect back on my past experience in terms of how I solve problems today, my early experience with Pareidolia was instrumental in allowing me to see things where most people can’t see; let alone imagine. In fact, I use this strategy in business when I work on strategic planning, equipment design, system optimization, and finding creative ways to solve seemingly impossible problems.

That’s because imagination is all about finding new and unique connections between existing objects or concepts that aren’t connected in a particular field or application, where you repurpose these disconnected concepts in a new way to solve a problem that people care about (and are willing to pay for).

I never thought of myself to be a source of inspiration to anybody; especially that my life was overflowing with massive failures and major disappointments. Heck, at some point I didn’t even want to go to college to begin with, and when I ended-up going anyways, I never could have imagined that I would one day start my own businesses! All that I ever wanted back then was to have a financially secure job, a loving wife, a decent home, and a bunch of nice cars, but life had a different plan for me. I believe that when you’re authentic in what you do, fight for what you believe in, be willing to pay the price for success, and take the hits that come along the way, greatness becomes your inevitable destiny!

You can learn how to inspire others with your courage, drive, purpose-driven actions, creativity, or passion for life. I’ve come to realize that there are many ways to apply imagination and creativity to your actions and behavior in order to inspire others to be the best version of themselves, and here are just 8 of them:

1. Show Them Instead of Telling Them: Lead by example through effective communication, and follow words with actions, where your actions become purpose-driven in your action.
2. Demonstrate What You’re Preaching: Believe in yourself, have self-confidence, put-in the hard work, and always compete with yourself, so that your competition would run around in circles before they could figure-out how to beat you at your own game.
3. Live by Your Values: Stand-up for what you believe in by developing your own core values that shape your character.
4. Redefine Your Relationship with Fear: Face your fears and embrace them as a suit of armor, just like batman embraced his fear of bats, and don’t shy away from challenges.
5. Offer a Helping Hand: Speak-up for yourself and defend those who have no voice.
6. Put Yourself in Other People’s Shoes: Handle difficult situations with compassion and empathy because empathy is at the heart of innovation.
7. Own Your Mishaps: Admit your faults, ask for help, and take responsibility.
8. Stand for Something Meaningful: Refuse to accept unjust behavior and transgression against the innocent.

Being able to inspire others is an important personality trait for any leader because they encourage everyone around them to dream bigger, push harder, and lead a more fulfilling life that is worth remembering. Great leaders live their lives in accordance with their beliefs and core values, where they always set an example of integrity and consistency for others to find what inspires them to imagine and develop creative solutions that solve latent problems. Ultimately, you have a better chance to impact the lives of others as an inspiring leader through your actions, instead of your words.

Now, to put all this together, you need to develop your own “Why Statement” to culminate everything you represent and stand for. So, if I were to ask you to develop your “Why Statement”, what would it say about you? In what ways can you develop your “Why Statement” that would inspire others to act?

Your “Why Statement” should condense all of what drives you in a single sentence. It should be “immortal,” meaning that it should be applicable to everything you do, both personally and professionally, without separation. Find-out what inspires you, so that you could one day inspire people to find what inspires them!

Takeaways

1. Lifeless Objects, Limitless Inspiration: Everyday objects hold hidden potential for sparking creativity. Embrace the power of “Pareidolia,” seeing shapes, faces, or creatures in the ordinary.
2. Unlocking Imagination: This playful engagement with the world strengthens your ability to visualize, a crucial skill for problem-solving and innovation.
3. Fueling Creativity: By finding inspiration in unexpected places, you constantly feed your creative wellspring, ensuring a steady flow of ideas.
4. More Than Just Seeing: It’s about “seeing beyond” — identifying possibilities and connections not readily apparent.
5. Childhood Wonder Regained: Reconnect with the childlike curiosity that fuels imagination and a sense of wonder about the world.
6. A Different Perspective: Shifting your perspective on everyday objects can spark new ideas and ways of seeing the familiar.
7. Doodling for Discovery: Doodling isn’t just for kids — it’s a low-pressure way to explore visual ideas and let your imagination wander.
8. Beyond Art: This skill benefits various fields — engineering, design, and any area that requires creative problem-solving.
9. Thinking Outside the Box: By strengthening your ability to visualize, you become adept at finding unconventional solutions and innovative approaches.
10. The Power of Play: The “What Do You See?” game ignites creative thinking in both children and adults, fostering a shared exploration of possibilities.
11. Don’t Fear Judgment: Embrace your unique way of seeing the world, regardless of what others might think. Your perspective is valuable.
12. Embrace the Unknown: Curiosity about the unseen fuels your desire to explore, leading to unexpected discoveries and breakthroughs.
13. Igniting Curiosity: By finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, you encourage a lifelong thirst for knowledge and understanding.
14. Building Confidence: Exploring your imagination strengthens your ability to trust your own insights and creative impulses.
15. Seeing Potential: With a well-developed imagination, you can identify potential solutions where others might see only obstacles.
16. The Gift of Storytelling: Your ability to see hidden stories in everyday objects translates into a richer way of perceiving and interpreting the world around you.
17. Sharpening Observation Skills: The act of searching for hidden shapes and stories strengthens your ability to observe details and patterns.
18. A World of Wonder: By nurturing your imagination, you cultivate a sense of wonder for the world, making life more interesting and engaging.
19. Lifelong Learning: This playful exploration of the world encourages lifelong learning and discovery.
20. Unleashing Your Creativity: With a strong foundation in imagination, you have the power to unlock your full creative potential in any field you choose.

The Mavrick

www.DarTec.com.sa

hashim@dartec.com.sa