creativity and ambivalence

I have always believed that creativity is rooted in a capacity to recognize the overlooked circumstantial elements which can give birth to unusual associations. That is essentially what renders creativity different from mere tinkering. A successful, rapid decision maker needs to stay alert to minute changes in the environment.

However absolute alertness requires a state of hormonal activity that does not lead to lopsided emotional states and selective perception. Perhaps the key is being emotional, but in an ambivalent kind of way.