"I’m Just Not a Creative Person" — Round 2
Yesterday, I decided the “I’m not creative” excuse just won’t fly with me any more. It’s incredibly frustrating, that no one bothered to tell these people that they absolutely DO have creative ability.
There’s no predetermined process or user manual I can give you with pretty diagrams that will instruct you on how to tap into your creative potential.
What I CAN give you is this: the most important step you will take in any creative journey. I consider it essential. And, it will bring you One Step Closer to Your Creative Breakthrough.
You must learn to LET GO (Hey, I never said it was an easy one).
{1} You must let go of the fear of being wrong.
{2} You must let go of the need to control every little detail.
Perfectionism - it’s at the root of both of these things.
An obsession with perfection can be fatal to your creativity. It wreaks major havoc on passionate energy, refreshing spontaneity and any kind of productivity.
In her book The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron writes…
Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves,, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough — that we should try again. No we should not.
Contrary to popular belief, perfectionism does not move closer what is “right.” In fact, perfectionism stops us dead in our tracks, and our creativity stops right along with it.
We are harder on ourselves than anyone else could ever be - our own worst critic. We have so much trouble giving ourselves permission to fail. Don’t you forgive your spouse or a friend when they screw up? Of course you do - they’re human. Um, HELLO! You’re human too. We were still an imperfect species last time I looked it up.
"I’m Just Not a Creative Person" — Round 1
How many times have you gotten this explanation from someone? I’d be willing to put up a nice wager against the assumption that you’ve heard this from at least one person in your lifetime.
And, if your experience has been anything like mine, this sham of an excuse was from a time you were required to work in a small group setting to accomplish something — be it high school, college or your 8 to 5 daily grind.
F i n d a N e w S t o r y . . .
From today forward, I will no longer accept this flimsy excuse from anyone. I’m calling BS the second it gets thrown out there for my rant-taking-opportunity.
The myth that some people are born creative and some are not is an idea that has manifested itself all over the society we exist in today. We all have the ability to create and be creative. Just because you can’t draw a giraffe or knit a scarf in an afternoon, that doesn’t disqualify you from living a creative life. Business managers and entrepreneurs rely on creative thought daily.
{{ Fluffy Stuff }}
I interviewed Malcolm White a couple of weeks ago, and honestly could have stayed all afternoon listening to his stories. As director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, he works to try and convince policy makers the value of the arts…
—that they are not something extra - they are fundamental. Art is not just this fluffy extra stuff hanging on the wall.
Without art and creativity as a fundamental building block for learning in school, you’ll find more and more people who cop out with a “not-the-creative-type” excuse.
How can you convince them they just might be wrong about themselves? Get them to trash the negative label they’ve put on themselves by asking for facts to support their claim that they lack creative skills.
>>>>>Creativity requires nothing more than open-mindedness. Most often people who believe they are not creative are those who try and force creative thoughts and ideas instead of just listening and letting everything flow.<<<<<<
Listening and letting go. To really listen and let go, you’ve got to master the hardest part of this whole creativity concept: the fear of being wrong.
More to Come in Round 2…
Back to School
Pen School, that is.
Earlier this week, I discovered Kelly Erickson’s Maximum Customer Experience blog. Her content, and the success she has had, were an immediate inspiration. I sent her an email looking for some feedback, but I was also hoping I might find a place where I could bring my future questions about the blogging world.
Thanks to Kelly, I know I’ve got more than just one of those places.
I sincerely appreciate the open arms with which so many of you have welcomed me.
My Creative Role Model
The potential for boundless creativity is something that exists within everyone. The problem is that so many people haven’t been given the right environment or the right tools to tap into that creativity. For that, you need a creative role model.
Today, I wanted to share with you a big piece of the puzzle that fueled my creativity….
I present, my daddy.
One of a kind and everything I could ask for in a creative role model.
Somehow, someway, he makes bread, meat and cheese taste worlds better than any sandwich I’ve ever made.
My perfectionist ways come from him, and they are both good and bad at the same time - and I embrace both sides.
Inevitably, I ended up blowing everyone in grade school away with my finished product for any creative assignment. And, it’s not because my dad did the project for me. What he always seemed to do was open my eyes with a new and different approach to the problem. Sure, he helped me. But, unworldly creativity needs that kind of support in its beginning stages.
My dad’s support is a big reason why I’m able to live up to my full creative potential. (I mean seriously, take another glance at the creativity going on in that St. Paddy’s outfit.)
Who is your biggest creative role model?
The World According to Buddy: The 4 Most Important Lessons I’ve Learned From My Dog
I’m not sure where I’d be today without this little man to snuggle with me on some rough days.
{1} Take Naps.
Buddy’s got this one down. Research has shown that a short nap during the day can help improve our memory, our health and our capacity for learning.
{2} Wag Your Tail When You’re Happy.
A James Nietzsche quote comes to mind here: “And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”
Dance around, be silly. Do it when you’re not happy too. I promise a little jig does wonders for a bad attitude.
{3} Be Loyal to a Fault.
We get so wrapped up in our busy lives, sometimes it becomes too easy to overlook the important people in our lives. Make sure these special people know just how special they are.
Tell them you’ll be waiting right by the door the second they need your support after a long, hard day.
{4} Sit outside and Soak Up the
Beautiful Day Around You.
Fresh air, sunshine and the slightest hint of a breeze. Sitting quietly in thought surrounded by this scene can do wonders for your creativity.
If you want, tilt your head back and close your eyes for the best effect - that’s how Buddy does it anyway.
And, if you have to be inside, at least take the time to enjoy the day from an open window…..
