Lies About Creativity
Lie #1: Creativity is something only some people have.
Everyone is creative, and creativity is for everyone. Humans have a profound creative impulse. We love to tell stories; we love to make our mark on things; we love to express ourselves. These are all acts of creation. Acknowledging your creative impulse is key to improved productivity and gratitude in your life.
Lie #2: You’re born with talent.
Your genetics may influence your propensity for things like dance or musical talent, but anything can be developed with practice. If you struggle with singing but want to be a professional singer, don’t feel discouraged because you can’t sing well with no practice. Put in the time and energy to learn and develop your skills! By the same token, unexercised, unrefined artistic “skills” are not “pure talent” and have no guarantee of turning into a career. If you can sing with no training or practice, you’re not automatically going to become famous. If you see a famous person you think can’t sing, consider the other skills they used: self-marketing and impression management.
Lie #3: Creativity can’t be increased.
You can absolutely cultivate creativity. We all have moments where it seems like our creativity is used up. We hit writer’s block, or a plateau, or a dry spell. Yet creativity isn’t a well; it’s a muscle. With diligent practice and through practicing a daily creative habit, we can get creative juices flowing sooner than we might think: we don’t need to “wait for it to come back around.” When in doubt: put pen to paper, whether literally or figuratively, and work on harnessing that creative impulse. It’s okay if you don’t like what comes out or it’s not tied to your project: just work out that muscle and eventually it will be stronger even on days you feel a little dried up.
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