Do you confuse being creative with being original? You might confuse being original with being unique. And do you think there’s no way you can be creative because your life is so ordinary? Society has brainwashed you. Undo the brainwashing: Be creative.
Definitions
According to Merriam-Webster creative means one is marked by the ability or power to create : given to creating, having the quality of something created rather than imitated.
Original means the source or cause from which something arises; that from which a copy, reproduction, or translation is made; a work composed firsthand; a person of fresh initiative or inventive capacity; or a unique or eccentric person.
It’s easy to see why original and creative get confused. If one is the source or cause from which something arises that thing is an original created by someone who is creative.
A creative person can create something original (never having been in existence before). But a creative person can also “create” a variation on something in existence. And sometimes, a creative person creates something entirely new or original to them, but that has also been “originated” by someone else at an earlier time. There are multiple instances of this in human history. The film projector, television, polycarbonate, and the jet engine were all invented by more than one person. (see Cracked). Also consider children at play. Their life experience is limited but their imaginations are limitless.
To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.”
— Kurt Vonnegut
Contemplate
Sometimes creativity needs rest, solitude, and meditation. Give your creativity time.
If you have struggled with meditation in the past, try looking at it a different way. Meditation means engaging in contemplation or reflection. Yes, it can also mean to engage in mental exercise for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness using repetition of a mantra and breathing techniques. But the first definition is what’s important. You must take take time to contemplate what it is that you wish to do creatively. Step out of your busy, busy schedule and schedule some time to think. To dream.
Trust Yourself
Schools, some parents, and other authority figures squash creativity. They justify themselves that they must do that to ‘control’ the classroom/work situation or to “make” a child/adult follow the rules.
Some rules are important for health and safety. Please follow those rules.
Group activities require some common behaviors, in other words, rules. If you have a creative group or team, you may need to follow some rules.
But creativity needs nurturing. Under the pressure of all those rules, creativity can grow quiet and weak. You must listen carefully to hear your creative voice. And you must trust it. Trust that it doesn’t matter if there are failures. Most things you can do over. In the words of Neil Gaiman, make glorious mistakes. For it’s in those mistakes you’ll find your creativity.
Be a Vessel
Chance favors the prepared mind.
— Louis Pasteur
Give yourself what you need to undo the brainwashing: Be creative. Soak up as much information and inspiration as you can. Know what speaks to you. How do you know what will spark inspiration? Learn about yourself, how you think, and what your strengths are.
Basic Learning/Thinking Styles
Look for things in your learning/thinking style.
- Visual—you learn best from pictures, images, and spacial relationships. Feed your creativity with trips to museums, art and craft shows, or other visual feasts.
- Aural—You prefer using sound and music. Music, rhythms tapped on your desk, and lectures or webinars will probably feed your creativity.
- Verbal—you learn best using words (speech, writing, and reading). Reading, audiobooks, and/or journaling may work for feeding your creative self.
- Physical (kinesthetic)—you prefer using your body, hands, or sense of touch to learn. Perhaps you would get inspiration during a power walk or a run. Gather a list of inspirational activities—a touch museum or zoo, working with clay or tools, or keeping your hands busy knitting or sewing as a way of feeding your creative self.
- Mathematical (Logical)—Logic and reasoning systems are your preferred method of learning.Try numbering your ideas or create a systematic routine—try several—to spark your creativity.
- Social—you love to learn in a group setting with other people. Your inspiration may be at a party, in a large classroom, or in other social settings.
- Solitary—you work best alone and learn best when you use self-directed-study. Carving time out of your day to be alone to think or study will be key for feeding your creativity.
Know Your Strengths
There are a number of personality, intelligence, and strengths assessments out on the web. The one I find most helpful is the Clifton Strengths Assessment (no, not an affiliate link).
Clifton, a WWII veteran, decided his mission after the war was to make a positive contribution to human development. So he studied psychology and was struck by the fact that all the books he studied talked about what was wrong with people. He decided to change that and began studying what makes people successful.
Strengths science answers questions about what’s right with people rather than what’s wrong with them.”
Don Clifton
This strengths assessment takes a little time to complete and there is a fee but is available to individuals. The results will amaze and enlighten you.
Knowing your strengths will help you understand why some things are easy for you and others are more difficult. It can help you figure out how to use those strengths to your advantage and how they sometimes trip you up.
Fill Your Creative Well
Still don’t know what your learning or thinking style is? If you don’t, I’m guessing you struggle with finding and expressing your creativity a little more than others might. Maybe “learning” isn’t how you fill your creative well. Maybe you need to go to a museum or art show or music fest. There are ways to fill your creative well no matter how you think or what your strengths are. Experiment with the suggestions above. I’ll bet you find one that works better than the others.
Be Creative
Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.
— Bruce Garrabrandt
Remember, you don’t have to be an artist to be creative. Undo the brainwashing: be creative. Give yourself permission to be creative. Fill your creative well and your soul and your happiness will grow.
Note: This updated blog post was originally published on July 15, 2019.
Image Credits
Top image purchased from DepositPhotos and modified by Lynette M. Burrows
Final image by colin-behrens on Pixabay.
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