Creativity lives and breathes in everything that we do, even if we don’t always notice it. Humans are creative beings. We love to add colour and joy to our lives, we can make sadness look beautiful, we have the ability to make the mundane appear spectacular. Even in business endeavours, creativity prevails.
Why is it then, that we don’t give our ‘art’ as much credit as we might give a business start up, a law degree, or an athletic scholarship?
Society has not been kind to creatives. Writers are an underpaid bunch. Artists to make money are usually dead before their art becomes famous. We have been trained to believe that creative pursuits are not as valuable as other fields.
Creativity is the cornerstone of our existence. Without creative individuals using their imagination and pushing boundaries, we wouldn’t live in the world we live in now. Creativity helps us tackle the challenges the world throws at us.
Being creative, and sharing our work comes with opening ourselves up for judgement. People will judge no matter what you do or don’t do, so you might as well do what you love, what feels good, and what you value, without apologies.
As a result of the external judgement, our creativity comes along with a set of consequences – criticism.
We are our own worst self-critics.
We judge what we do before we give it any opportunity to be shared with the rest of the world. Often, our default is to talk ourselves down. I’m not saying that everything we do is going to be perfect or that we never create rubbish – of course it happens, a lot – but at the same time we forget that we don’t need permission to be creative. We don’t have to ask anyone’s opinion, nor do we have to care what others thing. Art, writing, creativity, it’s all subjective. What works for one person, might not work for another.
The same goes for people, places, food, and everything in between. It’s impossible to please everyone, and you shouldn’t bother trying.
You do not need permission from anyone to follow your creative pursuits.
I’ve noticed something really annoying about myself. The more people know about my writing, the more self-conscious and critical I become. It’s like whenever I create there’s someone sitting on my shoulder telling me nothing I do is good enough.
I’m never going to be the world’s best writer – that’s not my aim. It’s unlikely that I’ll ever be as successful as Stephen King, JK Rowling or Elizabeth Gilbert or whoever the next ‘big thing’ is.
So what?
Does that mean that I should push my creative urges aside, ignore my passions, and stop doing something that brings me great satisfaction? Would I suggest my son or my best friend do the same?
Hell no.
Being the best is not my intention. Yes, I want to constantly work on my craft and improve with each book I write and each blog post I publish. But the only way to achieve this is to actually write, release books, publish blog posts, get feedback, then repeat the process.
Reading about writing, talking about writing, thinking about writing are not enough. While they all have a place in the creative process, they are not going to make me (or you) a better writer.
The only way to do that is to actually get your backside in the chair, turn on the computer, open up a blank screen and start writing.
Creativity takes courage.
-Henri Matisse
To be creative is to also be vulnerable. We’re baring our souls to the world and the world is not always kind. We don’t need to ask for permission. We can simply start.
Society encourages children to be creative and step out of their comfort zones. Then we become adults, and more often than not, our creativity gets curbed by the so-called realities of life – being serious, thinking about our future, paying the bills.
Slowly and surely, the creative well, becomes dry, and we reach a point where we no longer believe that we are creative.
It makes me wonder how much unseen potential exists in the world?
How many more artists, writers, singers, sculptors, designers could there be? Instead they’ve chosen the path of least resistance and gotten business or law degrees, careers with six-figure incomes and zero joy from their days.
There’s nothing wrong with a six-figure career. I’m all for it. We need to support ourselves financially to create freely. There are few things worse than worrying about how you’re going to pay the next bill or put food on the table. These things are what will curb creativity. I do not buy into the starving artist concept for one second. It’s a fallacy. A bad joke.
But just because you have a career doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow your creative passions. You can still be an engineer or financial planner and write romantic suspense in the evenings. You’re allowed to be a doctor or garbage collector and take those weekend acting classes.
It doesn’t matter what you do to bring home the bacon, you can give yourself permission to be creative, to write the book, paint the picture, perform in a play, dance on stage. You can do whatever your creative soul desires without waiting for permission.
Someone will always roll their eyes at what you do. That’s their problem not yours. (If they do, ask them what are they doing that brings them joy? The odds are, they’ll go bright red and not say another word).
You and your mindset are the only obstacles getting in the way of acting on your creative desires.
Remember:
- You are good enough
- Nobody gives a damn if you’ve written a book, so just write it
- Love your supporters
- Ignore the haters
- Follow your passions
- It’s not about being the best but doing your best
- The best is subjective
- We’re all creative beings whether we are doctors, artists, winemakers or architects
- Creativity leads to a better world
- You can do anything you set your mind to, you just have to try
- Just go for it
Writing and creativity are not just for the ‘artistic’ people. Creativity comes in all shapes and sizes. We will never please everyone, nor should we bother to try. It’s a fruitless exercise.
You don’t need permission from anyone to be creative. You just have to want to be.
All you need is to give yourself permission to create. Be the master of your creative pursuits.
You never know, your story, your art, your design, might be what adds joy and wonder to someone else’s life, so don’t take that away from them.
Go out there and create what sparks joy in your heart and soul.
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