You Don’t Need A Permission To Be Creative
Creativity is everyone’s right, not a privilege.
This article is submitted to the June-August writing competition on creativity and resilience.
It all started when I went to Foyle’s on Charing Cross Road in London. I used every trip to London to stockpile books (especially from business and self-help sections) and never could contain myself. So much variety, so little time to read them all!
This time, however, funds were running low. “One book,” — I told myself. “You are allowed only one book, so choose wisely.” As if this could somehow have helped (rolls eyes). After thorough browsing through bookshelves, I finally picked a little white book with green lettering. 8.99 said the price tag on its back cover. Creative Confidence said it’s front.
If someone would have told me that this book would turn my life around, I would have laughed in their face. And then probably laughed a bit more. Even when I was writing I didn’t think of it as a creative process and the whole concept of creativity sounded like some kind of soft skill mambo-jumbo. “Ah well, maybe it can help with self-esteem,” I thought to myself, picking up this book… only to leave the same store with 8 more books on creativity, problem-solving, and innovation a few months later.
Everyone is Creative
I can’t say that it was the easiest read and I have to admit to getting it wet and crumpled in the pool, bath, and sea but with every page that I’ve read, I kept asking myself “Wait. So everyone is allowed to be creative?”
Wait. So everyone is allowed to be creative?
And note this word: “allowed.” Often, we think about creativity as an activity that needs and approval or authorization. From whom? Your teachers, family, your boss, anyone. The educational system isn’t helping either. And even though things are changing for younger generations, many of us grew up knowing that in school you only need to look for the right answer and not get out of line.
Unlearning 27 years of living with the belief that I can’t be creative to save my life and overwriting it with the idea that EVERYONE IS CREATIVE is not an overnight change. Our brains are wired to seek confirmation of what we believe in (hello confirmation bias). The longer we spend believing something (like the lack of our own creativity), the harder it is to rewrite this belief. But it’s not impossible!
Overcoming Your Old Ways
Just like your brain picks up the signals that you are not creative, it can be trained to search for confirmation of your own creativity. Think of the times when you came up with an unexpected solution or were quick to think about something — these are exactly the signs of creativity in action.
The other important thing to do is create your own definition of creativity. Finding ( or creating) a definition that fits your own worldview gives you more freedom to express yourself. When you step out of your regular ways to try something new when you stand up for your ideas when you seek understanding and connection over favoring one idea over the other.
If you want to speed up the process, treat creativity like a muscle. Far too long I’ve spent waiting for inspiration to strike me like lightning and light the way. You have way more chances for success if you treat your creativity as a muscle and practice every day. Practice making connections, seeing new things, questioning the ways you do things, being silly, doing something that makes you scared.
And if you want to deepen your creative skills, slow down and start observing. The art of connecting dots comes from the ability to see similarities between different objects and concepts. To see the similarities you need to notice nuances, details, and let your imagination roam free.
Don’t be afraid of silly thoughts or ideas. One thing that creativity teaches us is that it’s not just about finding the right answer, it’s about having fun, exploring, and enjoying the process.
Being Creative is Being Unapologetically Yourself
Creativity has plenty of enemies, from personal biases to societal norms and policies. But one of the most underlying ones is self-doubt. Not believing in your right to be creative, comparing yourself with others, being afraid to stand out.
You can be the most creative person in the world, but if you are not ready to share your gift with the world and be loud about your ideas, your knowledge, skills, and talent are wasted.
So there it is, you need to start with yourself. Make peace with making mistakes, being silly sometimes, and not having all the answers. Find that inner belief in your right to be creative and start sharing your ideas with the world. Allow yourself to be your most creative and authentic self and you will notice how much goodness you have to share with others.
