Kristin Birkeland is a Kaospilot. The purpose of the Kaospilots is “to create positive change through personal growth.” She however describes herself as a disturbing element in the organisation, as creativity should be allowed to grow without being disturbed. She sees creativity as a muscle, which must be “taken care of and exercised” like any other.
She captivated the audience with a story, which told of an old woman who was whole and complete in every way but was still longing, and that the key is to ask yourself, “what are you longing for?” The starting point, according to Kristin, is to start saying yes to ideas, and then you can create anything. The way to start ideas flowing is to say “yes and…” to an opportunity. In the creative process Kristin believes that there is no straight line, it is a journey and that “creativity and innovation depend on diversity.”
Kristin recognises that the creative process itself is a struggle but puts a positive twist on this quoting the Norwegian word “OJDA”. This word is one that means mistake and surprise that she uses when something unexpected happens that takes her work in a new direction. In the same way she spoke of the judgment, cynicism, and fear of creating something. She said the best way to deal with these feelings was to recognise that they existed, but not to become that feeling.
