The following 5 points address misconceptions about creativity and how limited thinking keeps us from realizing our goals.
Myth 1 – Creativity is inspired: It’s a popular and romantic notion that outstanding ideas come in a flash or eureka moments. While concepts may seem to arrive complete, they’re actually a composite of your thinking process and nurtured by effort and revision, You must foster powerful ideas, by assessing their viability. By working on specifics, other dimensions are revealed. Consistent effort yields options. Anything you spend significant time with, especially with an eye for detail, will produce results. I call this inspired.
Myth 2 – Liberals are more creative: We’re told creatives dwell in far-left political and social circles. This also includes a varied emotional palette and diverse cultural range. In fact, creativity traverses all classes, races, and nationalities. Your upbringing doesn’t matter (e.g. by hippies or conservatives.) Creativity is awareness, a cognitive/emotional response. Irrespective of formative years, some people can “see.” Creativity doesn’t play favorites.
Myth 3 – Only certain activities are creative: Images of brilliant and eccentric artists, musicians, and writers abound. These depictions are so prevalent they’ve become stereotypes in books, movies, and everyday society. Unfortunately, many believe you have to be in a so-called creative field to realize the benefits of self-expression. Actually, all fields are creative. Creativity is displayed in everything, from the design of traffic lights to physics. Each discipline is an art and science, with benchmarks for mastery. Don’t limit yourself. Creativity is the essence of human existence.
Myth 4 – Creativity means rejecting boundaries and social norms: Those deemed creative are often exempt from moral codes. Their outrageous behavior can range from public intoxication to social media rants. The context doesn’t matter, but the outcome is the same: antisocial behavior. Emotional extremes do not denote creativity. Many creative people are productive and stable. They are law-abiding and civil. In fact, while not popularized because of a lack of sensationalism, the disciplined person is more productive than the front runner who’s all over the place. For building a quality life, which would you rather be?
Myth 5 – Creativity equals freedom: People often believe being creative means doing what you want, unencumbered by accountability. The thinking is, permissiveness loosens the limitations that hogtie most people resulting in extraordinary ideas. Nothing is further from the truth. Creativity is harnessed through discipline, habit, and routine just like any other skill (e.g. the training of a competitive athlete). Creative people with a work mentality get more done. They can problem solve and apply their energy to the process of creation. This produces consistent results. A regimented lifestyle means clarity. People mistakenly believe discipline and order are only for the military. They don’t understand that to be effective at your craft you must have order, not just in your career, but also in your personal life, given the two impact each other, and depending on how you live this can be positive or negative.
By overcoming the above myths with facts and reason, you are freeing yourself to access your creative ability and unlock your potential.
Later,
Gary
