Thinking and Personality’s creative life-orientation: ways of development (monograph) [Иванченко А., & Заика, Е. Мышление и жизнесозидающая креативность личности: пути развития (монография)] (in Russian)

Abstract

The monograph examines and analyzes two fundamental factors in the development of personality that ensure the person’s happiness, success and self-realization, namely, these are thinking (broadly understood: it includes both imagination and intelligence) and a special phenomenon that we nominate as «creative life-orientation» (leading to continuous self-development, self-creation and creativity in all areas of life). Their role in the formation of personality and the implementation of its life path is undeniable. The main attention is paid not so much to the psychological description of these two fundamental phenomena (thinking and «creative life-orientation»), but to the analysis of the ways and means of their development and improvement. Two main paths are presented. The first way is a variety of intellectual trainings aimed at the formation of different qualities of thinking, imagination and memory, as well as creative life-orientation. The second way is relaxation and meditation practices (first of all, the system of increasing life potential according to the doctrine of the Reiki system and practicing of traditional meditation according to Maharishi), aimed at the overall integral improvement of the health and condition of brain functioning, increasing mental capabilities and personality’s effectiveness. At the same time, if the first path (trainings) even more or less fits into the traditions of the Ukrainian (and more globally - Slavic, i.e. European) mentality and as a whole quite easily enters in the life traditions, taking root in life (although many still underestimate its efficiency!), then the second way (Reiki, Yoga, relaxation-meditation practices) is quite unusual for the Slavic-European worldview, so it is often perceived very skeptically and wary. At the same time, if the first path (trainings) even more or less fits into the traditions of the Ukrainian (and if more globally - Slavic, i.e. European) mentality and as a whole quite easily enters in the life traditions, taking root in life (although many still underestimate its efficiency!), then the second way (Reiki, Yoga, relaxation-meditation practices) is quite unusual for the Slavic-European worldview, so it is often perceived very skeptically and wary. However, according to the available psychological literature, and on the basis of long-standing experience in the practical work of the authors, we can safely say: East Asian self-healing technologies work! they are effective! But here we emphasize: the effect does not appear immediately. They need to be practiced for a while. Advocating developing trainings and relaxation-meditation practices as ways of effective development of thinking and «creative life-orientation», we underline with particular and complete conviction: they are by no means the main or basic, but only auxiliary, additional ways of developing these psychological qualities. The following thought is fundamental: the affirmation, development, improvement of thinking and «creative life-orientation» does not at all end in adolescence, but can continue, and really continues, also in adulthood. A person who is aware of own desire to develop can undoubtedly always find time and resources for this.