CHAPTER
3

Motivation and Creativity

In This Chapter

• Responding to your creative urges
• Exploring intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
• Considering what drives you

If I asked you, right now, what motivates you to create, could you answer me without thinking about it? And just how strong is your drive? Is your motivation so pure and solid that you jump at every opportunity, or do you find yourself ignoring or delaying what’s in your heart to create? Either way, you are not alone.

In this chapter, you have an opportunity to learn about the different types of motivation and closely examine what’s behind your own inspiration.

The Urge to Create

Do you ever get a feeling that something is gnawing at you? You may not be able to put your finger on it, but you know something is there, calling you, practically doing cartwheels in front of you to get your attention. Eventually, like a point-and-shoot camera trying to fixate on a horizon, the picture comes more into focus. It’s an urge to create.

What do I mean by calling it an urge? Besides the traditional definition of urge being an impulse or desire, in the context of the word urgent, it can also indicate a need for immediate action.

CREATIVITY KEY

Creative expression can serve as a form of therapy. Allow yourself to explore your unlimited potential, go beyond your boundaries, and reveal a part of yourself. Reflect on this without judgment or expectation and be open to what comes to you. The actual creation can come later. Begin with a conscious exploration.

This urge can range from an impulse—a thought or feeling that suddenly strikes you, which says “I must do this now”—to an idea that starts slowly and steadily develops more and more over time until you can no longer ignore it. For example, perhaps you’ve had a wish to visit Italy for years; it could simply be something you’ve thought of for a long time with little definition or direction, or something that suddenly drives you to book a flight at that very moment. One artist I know describes the urge to create as an inner voice that insists that she practically drop whatever else she is doing at that moment to start painting right here, right now. For me personally, it usually means I’m yearning to write a new song or pick up my Native American flute and play whatever notes come to me. Regardless of how it manifests, it’s a feeling that won’t go away.

Sometimes the urge is easy to miss because it starts out as soft as a whisper. This undercurrent may remain for a while and then at some point, as if someone outside of you is controlling a volume dial, the sound becomes louder and louder and eventually expresses more like a lion’s roar.

Acting on your creative urges gives you a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, realignment with your true self, and more than likely you will be teeming with energy. Not acting means you risk feelings of regret, bitterness, dissatisfaction, or even grief—if the urge is tied to a limited opportunity that passes you by.

But what can drive you not to act? Sometimes it’s unrealistic to start on a project right when you think of it. You could be driving, working, or doing something else that makes it difficult or impossible to break away for the new creative pursuit. Many times, however, when that call is never or seldom answered, it’s due to a lack of motivation.

Getting motivated to create means finding what inspires you. Once you understand what really inspires you to create, you will be better equipped to answer that call. It’s time to tap into your inner voice now to see what might be trying to get your attention.

CREATIVITY KEY

Ignoring the voice, or not taking any action toward it, can also be due to fear. This fear may come from being uncertain of what to expect or having done something similar before with no success. If you think this is the case for you, check out Chapter 6, which talks more about creative blocks.

How Are You Motivated?

Which comes first—the chicken (the idea) or the egg (the motivation)? Are you naturally motivated to create, perhaps because you’ve tasted how sweet the fruits of your creativity can be? If so, you’ve probably experienced how you become even more inspired to continue the creative process, as each stage builds upon the previous one and offers its own reward. If you’re waiting for motivation to strike you, as if a genie arises from its brass lamp to awaken your creativity, you may never experience an increase in your drive to create because you’re lacking motivation in the first place.

How can you become more motivated? Is it even possible to “make” yourself be motivated? The answer is “Absolutely.” As with anything else, you have to desire it enough to be willing to learn, grow, and apply what you discover on your path. That driving force can come from your inner being or from outer sources, known as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, respectively.

DEFINITION

According to psychologist Teresa Amabile of the Harvard Business School, a leading researcher in the field of creativity, intrinsic motivation is an internal drive to create due to your commitment or passion for the activity itself. Extrinsic motivation comes from outside forces such as rewards, awards, promotions, money, and grades.

Intrinsic Motivation

The saying “Create art for art’s sake” applies to intrinsic motivation. In other words, the enjoyment of the task itself is enough to drive you to create. You have an internal zeal, a passion for the work, and are fully committed to it without the need of an external reward. You may find the task at hand challenging or interesting, or you believe you will grow personally from the experience. The focus is on the activity itself and the creative process rather than the finished product. You feel fulfilled regardless of the outcome, as you are not attached to any result in particular.

The following are some different forms of intrinsic motivation:

Desiring personal growth: In some cases, the motivation to create extends from an inner need to grow as a person. For example, after 65-year-old Judy went through her second divorce, a quiet thought came to her about writing a memoir about her life. At first she ignored it, thinking, “Who would want to read about my boring life?” But the voice persisted, and once she realized there was no need to share her words with anyone, she became motivated to begin writing to gain a better understanding of herself. That was reason enough to write. She had no plans of publishing her story, although she was open to it. Her only motivation was to grow from the opportunity of creatively expressing herself.

Being intrinsically motivated by personal growth can be about wanting to feel like you matter and what you’re doing matters. In his book, Coaching the Artist Within: Advice for Writers, Actors, Visual Artists & Musicians, creativity coach and author Eric Maisel says passion is what motivates us. This means engaging in pursuits you love, as they are meaningful to you and make you feel more alive. Making art, trying new recipes, inventing games with your children, or learning to play the instrument you’ve always dreamed of are all examples of creative activities you may choose because you’re passionate about them. It makes you feel good. It makes you feel like you matter. And you do!

You may also be motivated to create in order to respond to a calling you believe is coming from deep within, as if your soul is leading you on a spiritual adventure. You’re not sure where your creative expression will take you, and that’s not your focus—it’s the journey and not the destination you care about. Your motivation is to learn more about yourself in the process and to get closer to who you really are.

Sometimes with intrinsic motivation for personal growth, all you need to motivate you is to engage in a task that will open your heart—one that will move you past the walls that have been protecting you and allow you to experience the open feeling of creating. You are being driven by a desire to express yourself creatively because you know it will move you into a more heartfelt space. Or you feel motivated by the longing to stretch yourself beyond the usual boundaries. It’s not about others assigning a task to you and pleasing them. No, you are motivated to create because in challenging yourself; you are giving yourself a chance to learn and grow. Or you may like the idea of being productive because it gives you a feeling of accomplishment. No reward is necessary. Engaging in the process is a reward in and of itself.

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.”

—Marc Chagall

Creating to satisfy a curiosity is another example of how this type of motivation works. Have you ever gone to an art show that features hundreds of artists and crafters? You stroll along the rows of booths, taking in all of the colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. You watch as the different vendors interact with the guests and you become curious what it would be like to paint, draw, work with wood, or make jewelry. You become so motivated by your curiosity that you rush to your nearest art store, speak with one of the store employees who recommends what materials you should buy, and purchase the basic necessities to get started. You have no goal other than to have fun with this new project and to satisfy your curiosity. Where it goes from there … well, go for it and you’ll find out!

Balancing your life: You may be motivated to take on creative projects because you’re feeling like your life is unbalanced. This could be due to your life being all work and no play, where even your home activities seem to be more focused on doing laundry, dusting, vacuuming, weeding, cleaning out the garage, or other household chores. You know that if you don’t introduce a new activity in your life, the imbalance will only get worse. You are now internally motivated to initiate a new creative project, one that will offset work and routine chores with fun and pleasure. That could be anything from taking a ceramics or woodworking class to getting back to a routine you had gotten away from months ago, such as writing in a journal. Regardless of what you choose, this inspiration is coming from a place inside of you.

Improving your overall health: This refers to how you think creating makes you feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally—and that’s enough to drive you. For example, many people who exercise with the purpose of losing weight find it difficult to continue. Why? Because they’re in a hurry to shed the pounds and they’ll only feel good about themselves if they do instead of enjoying the workout itself. If your motivation to exercise is because you take pleasure in the activity itself, however, you know you’re being intrinsically motivated. The same applies to a creative project.

Connecting with others: Upon first glance, you might think this one is more extrinsic because it involves other people. What I’m referring to is the feeling you get when you share a common interest with others—a sense of bonding and connection. For example, whenever I have facilitated small groups of 10 or fewer people in my creativity classes, I am always amazed at the amount of intimacy that takes place. I’m not talking about the kind of intimacy you experience with a spouse or mate; instead, it’s the shared experience of creating as a group. I enjoy observing how the individuals in the group come together. Each group has a different energy about it, but the common denominator is a kind of love, empathy, and respect for one another. Feeling motivated in the presence of others provides a wonderful bonding opportunity!

Creating beauty in the world: You may simply be driven to create to give form to your personal expression. As I’ve already discussed, there really is no limit as to what kind of form you can create, as there are countless examples found in nature and everyday living. You may wish to create artwork that illustrates your heritage, or you may want to bring a certain culture to the forefront. In this type of intrinsic motivation, you believe your creations add a touch of beauty to the world and wish to share them, not so others may judge them, but because you are driven to do your part in adding your own personal garnishes. This, in turn, contributes meaning to the world and allows you to let your light shine because it makes you feel good!

Extrinsic Motivation

If you are extrinsically motivated, you are focused more on the end result rather than the creative activity or process. You’re inspired by a goal that is external to the work itself, such as winning awards; getting a promotion, salary increase, or bonus; satisfying your customers; finding a solution; improving your social status; or, if you’re a student, getting good grades.

CREATIVITY COMPASS

During a creativity coaching session, Bobbi, who was retired, explained that she enjoyed drawing and painting, but she found that she was more interested in having a sense of completion rather than appreciating the creative process. Her desire was to have more fun while actually doing her artwork. We discussed ways that would allow this, and in the end she decided to set a reasonable time frame to complete each piece to eliminate a feeling of needing to rush. She also meditated and wrote in her journal to move into a space of gratitude. By committing to these steps, she noticed how she became more deliberate with her art and began to thoroughly enjoy the actual process rather than worrying about the end result.

A great example of extrinsic motivation is a friend of mine who is a writer. She once declared, “I hate to write but I love the feeling I have once the article is finished.” She is paid to write and has received accolades and recognition from her boss, co-workers, and readers. That is what drives her to write—not the process of writing. That’s not to say that this applies to all writers. Unlike my friend, I enjoy the process of writing—in particular, researching and writing this book. At the same time, I am being motivated by the end goal—the publishing of this book.

As you can see, they are both extrinsic, but one is simply about the external, while the other is a combination of the internal and external. According to psychologist Teresa Amabile of the Harvard Business School, these differences can be classified synergistic and nonsynergistic motivators:

• Synergistic motivators: This type of extrinsic motivation moves the person to complete the work in combination with intrinsic motivation. An example of this would be an artist who is inspired to paint because she loves the feeling it gives her but also is motivated by the end goal of selling the piece. She derives both a monetary benefit and a feeling of appreciation that she was able to enhance that customer’s life with beauty.
• Nonsynergistic motivators: These give a person more of a feeling that he’s being controlled by external incentives that are not in harmony with intrinsic motivators. For example, when you were a child, your parents may have pressured you to get an A in each of your classes. If there was a subject you really disliked, such as math, your nonsynergistic motivator to study and do well would have been due to your parents’ demands, not because you had a desire on your own to learn more about arithmetic.

In one of Amabile’s studies that involved college women, she concluded that “the intrinsically motivated state is conducive to creativity, whereas the extrinsically motivated state is detrimental.” How so? If you’re simply extrinsically motivated, someone is sitting in judgment of you. If they deem your work to be “less than,” you may not feel as inspired the next time you take on a creative project unless your motivation is coming from within.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that if you’re motivated extrinsically that you can’t or won’t be creative. It just means, ideally, your motivation should be synergistic, which allows you to rely on both your inner resources and outside forces so you can have the most rewarding creative experience. For example, if you’re a scientist who is motivated to find the cure to cancer, it goes without saying how life-changing that discovery would be not only for yourself, but also for millions of other people. In this case, the primary motivating force may be the end result (extrinsic) and also ties into the scientist’s passion (intrinsic).

Do not judge yourself if you are more extrinsically motivated. There is nothing wrong with striving to get good grades or wanting to be recognized by your boss with a healthy raise. You just need to combine that with some intrinsic motivation so that nothing is necessarily required of anyone or anything outside of you to find joy in creating.

Understanding Your Own Motivations

In the end, it’s important to be aware of what it takes for you to move forward. There has to be some kind of connection to a feeling within yourself, an external reward or a person, or both. Amabile believes being motivated by a passionate heart will result in the most creativity. That simply means you have a deep caring for whatever it is you’ve decided to pursue; it matters to you. If you can identify your primary motivators, you can use this information to help you the next time you may be feeling stuck or ambivalent about an idea you have. Yes, it is possible for you to search for ways to increase your motivation. If you know what drives you, you’ll be able to recognize what’s missing and see if you can you fill that void with one of your motivational prompts. The following questions will help you do that.

Are you in touch with your intentions and talents? In an online article, professor Jane Piirto, who wrote the book Creativity for 21^st Century Skills, addresses motivation by saying that regardless of the creative activity, those who are creative must have motivation with an intention to make something. They have to want it and have “a certain amount of obsession.” Knowing what you want and taking the time to clearly articulate your intention—whether you write or record it—will help you to maintain your motivation. If your motivation begins to wane, revisit your original intention. See if anything has changed within you or with outside circumstances and if any modifications need to be made.

Having talent in your chosen area and receiving support also may be important. If you really want something and are willing to do whatever it takes, you can develop a talent in a given area. At the same time, if engaging in an activity frustrates you time and time again, you may want to shift your focus to something that feels better. But don’t give up too soon. Sometimes just when you feel like quitting, you’re on the brink of a breakthrough, so keep that in mind! That’s where getting the encouragement and support of others could help you get motivated again to continue.

When was the last time you took on a project or decided to do something new? Think about it, and then, with that situation in mind, determine if any of the following statements apply, using “I was motivated to do this because …” to begin:

• I knew it would help me grow personally.
• I felt it would balance my life.
• I thought it would lead to making personal and professional connections.
• I wanted to create beauty in the world.
• I felt it would bring me more prosperity.
• I figured, if done superbly, my work would be considered for an award and recognition, which would help me advance my career.
• Serving others makes me feel good inside.

If there are other factors that motivated you, write them down. This way, you can revisit them when you feel like you’re running out of steam. They will help you get back in touch with what drives you.

Are you motivated by positive or negative reinforcement? When facing the prospect of a creative request or demand, do you respond better if it’s prefaced with a positive statement, such as “I know you can do this,” or do you like to be challenged with statements, such as “You’ll never be able to do that”? Those words would come as a crushing blow to some and would be the perfect motivator for others. I, myself, take those kinds of statements on with a type of rebellious “Oh yeah? I’ll show you!” attitude.

Do you consider yourself to be an overachiever, underachiever, or average? If you have ever labeled yourself as an overachiever, you probably have a relentless drive that extends to most areas of your life, including creativity. Where does that drive, that ambition, that desire to constantly create come from? Is it a need to gain approval from others? Are you motivated to go nonstop because you feel your contributions make a difference in the world? Or is the act of challenging yourself and then meeting that opportunity head on enough to keep you motivated? There are no wrong answers here. These are questions to ask and answer yourself to gain a better understanding of how you function.

If you’ve ever referred to yourself as an underachiever, ask yourself what’s missing and what will it take to inspire you to take action. Sometimes people get labeled as “lazy” when what’s really lacking are their motivational drivers. This is why it’s so important to realize what propels you to move forward. If you consider yourself to be an average achiever, are you comfortable with where you are or do you wish to have more energy to engage in more opportunities? Again, look to what really matters to you.

If you had to rank your motivation to create on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most motivated), how would you rate yourself? Why did you give yourself that ranking? What did you base it on? Did you compare yourself to others, or did you base it on the fact you haven’t created in a long time? If you gave yourself a higher number, is it because you are consistently creating? The purpose of this ranking is not to berate or applaud yourself. It’s to simply be aware of where you’re at and whether you want to increase what you’re doing, scale back, or stay right where you are.

Know that it’s normal for the forces that drive you to go into neutral at times. Even the most motivated people in the world don’t always have their gear shaft in D for Drive. Even they put on the brakes or go into reverse at times as they stop to reflect and reexamine where they’re at creatively and where they need to go from there. Resist the temptation to label yourself as lazy or not ambitious enough just because you haven’t exercised your creativity in a while. Just like your car has to be maintained on a regular basis, you also must undergo a process of refueling and recharging your battery before continuing.

CREATIVITY KEY

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers—no rules! Even though the more recent research conducted on motivation by and large shows that creativity is driven primarily intrinsically, it doesn’t make you wrong or less creative if you are motivated more by the end result, or the goal itself, be it a promotion, salary increase, or better grade. Only you know what truly works for you. But if you think you’ve been motivated extrinsically in the past and have not been pleased with your creative output, it’s time to take another look at what really drives you and makes you want to answer that urge to create right now!

The Least You Need to Know

• The urge to create can present as a thunderous bang or a barely audible murmur that eventually grows louder. Either way, it’s something that tugs at you until you finally heed the call to create.
• The forces that inspire you to create can come from the task itself (an intrinsic motivator) or from the end result (an extrinsic motivator).
• The more motivated you are to create, the more you will want to continue to create. The more you create, the more motivated you will be.
• Only you hold the key to what truly motivates you. Tap into your driving forces on a regular basis. This awareness in and of itself will help keep you motivated to create.