CHAPTER
1

Everyone Is Creative

In This Chapter

• The tried, true, and new definitions of creativity
• How creativity is everywhere
• The origins of creativity
• Can you learn how to be more creative?

Picture yourself seated at a creativity workshop I’m hosting. I ask you what images, words, and phrases come to mind when I say the word creativity. I give you a few minutes to ponder this, and then I ask you to write down your feelings associated with creativity. It’s probably a safe assumption that some of the images you pictured were arts related: painters, sculptors, actors, musicians, singers, songwriters, jewelers, photographers, writers, filmmakers, and the like. But artists and nonartists alike are creative in their everyday lives.

In this chapter, I take you through the different ways creativity can be defined, as well as how creativity infuses every aspect of your existence.

Defining Creativity

The Merriam-Webster dictionary’s definition of creativity is “the ability to make new things or think of new ideas.” Other phrases used to describe creativity include initiating useful ideas that are unique, innovative, novel, fresh, or original. So while the idea you come up with may not be brand new, the way in which you advance it may be different.

DEFINITION

Creativity is initiating, activating, and implementing ideas that are original, unusual, useful, or innovative. The ideas may advance an existing concept or seemingly spring forth from nowhere.

In terms of defining creativity, psychologists and creativity experts will add that for an idea or product to be creative, it also must be useful and put into action. If you have an imagination with more ideas than the colors and patterns in a kaleidoscope and don’t act on them, are you creative? This certainly demonstrates that you have the ability to drum up new things in your mind, but if they stay hidden in your personal chambers, the creative process stops there.

But what if your weakness is generating ideas, while your strength is taking other people’s ideas and figuring out how to make them happen? This kind of connection, which happens during collaborative sessions, shows how creativity happens in stages as part of a process rather than as an idea you simply come up with and put into place. (We look at this more in later chapters.) This means we have to go beyond the standard Merriam-Webster definition of creativity.

One definition that works well with the overall philosophy of this book is one by Joseph V. Anderson, who states in “Weirder than Fiction: The Reality and Myths of Creativity.” “Creativity is nothing more than seeing and acting on new relationships, thereby bringing them to life.” When you read the word relationships, it’s natural to think in terms of people. But a relationship also can be a link, association, or connection between ideas, too, which is why this definition is more apt than the Merriam-Webster one. It connotes an open, encouraging feeling, a sense of freedom, which helps creativity flourish.

CREATIVITY COMPASS

What we bring into being as our own creations can be influenced by our past and present surroundings. I wrote a song titled “Where Do We Find God?” and all I had to do to stir my muse was to look around me and notice the beauty of the trees, the birds chirping, and the sounds of a nearby brook. The way I specifically strung the words together was an original expression that was inspired by nature. See what connections or associations you can make with songs, drawings, paintings, sculptures, nature, and any other surroundings that inspire you.

Another way to think of creativity, according to psychotherapist and creativity coach Eric Maisel, is not necessarily as a special talent or ability, but rather as “the fruit of a person’s decision to matter.” This opens up creativity even more to encompass not only talented artists, but also the work done in the business world and beyond. So while you’ll read about examples from the arts world in this book, as many hobbies and professional careers revolve around this field, the chapters will not be limited to the arts or any singular aspect of creativity.

How You Encounter Creativity Every Day

You can see examples of creativity everywhere you look. Some of what you see can be easily traced and credited to an individual or a group of people, while other things aren’t as readily apparent. These everyday occurrences can be categorized three ways:

Creations from well-known people: These are the creations of people that others seem to know the world over. For example, you can’t say J. K. Rowling without thinking of Harry Potter, the character in the wildly successful and amazingly imaginative universe she created.

Creations from people you know personally: There are plenty of folks you know personally whom you may consider to be highly creative. They may not be household names, but their creativity is apparent to all who see their work. Perhaps you know a seamstress who goes beyond doing basic alterations, combining her skills and imagination to make unusual purses, dazzling hats, baby headbands, and embroidered banners.

Creations from people you don’t know: Do you actually think about who created the spoon and fork you pick up each day to eat your meals, or the ink pen with which you write? These crafters took an everyday, utilitarian item and used their creative ideas to make and offer a product that is used by everyone.

These categories cover a wide range of people and ideas, showing how there is no set formula for creative expression. You don’t have to be a well-known inventor, a best-selling author, a noted composer, or an award-winning artist to creatively express yourself.

CREATIVITY COMPASS

I’ve worked with clients who keep getting stuck because their creativity doesn’t relate to inventing or the arts. It’s essential to understand and believe that creativity happens in the workplace and at home, with professionals and hobbyists, anytime and all the time. While most creations don’t make headlines, they can provide far more meaningful benefits than making the news.

The “Affiliations” of Creativity

There are some common affiliations you probably associate with creativity, beginning with children. If you’ve spent even a little bit of time around kids, you’ve witnessed how they use their imaginations. They make it look so easy as they visit the “Land of Make-Believe” so cheerfully. Most of them lack the inhibitions that show up later in life into adulthood, so they freely express themselves. They’re not afraid to be silly, laugh heartily, pretend to be anything they can imagine, and explore eagerly—all of which keep the creative process flowing. Parents who are mindful about the importance of creative expression look for ways to encourage their children to continue using their imaginations. (Kids and creativity will be explored in more depth in Chapter 17.)

You may also equate spirituality with creativity, especially if you’ve had an experience in which you felt your inspiration came from another dimension, God, the Universe, or whatever you choose to name that presence. Or maybe you felt you were awakened by a muse, which may have led to a creative breakthrough. Author Caroline Myss maintains it’s impossible to separate creativity and spirituality. In her audio recording “Your Creative Soul,” she says, “Spirituality is an expression of your spirit and you cannot have any form of creativity unless you understand the impulse of creation itself.”

DEFINITION

Muse is a term that originated with Greek mythology in which goddesses represented the arts, music, poetry, and science. A muse is cited in creativity as an unseen guiding force or spring of inspiration.

Creativity also is often associated with the business world. Beyond professions where creativity is apparent (such as graphic designers, fashion designers, and copywriters), scientists, engineers, architects, and a host of other professionals and entrepreneurs count on their ability to innovate in the workplace. In fact, today more and more businesses are demanding creativity and innovation from their employees to improve their bottom line, and research supports this need. Such advances can mean the difference between success and failure. (You’ll learn more about creativity in the workplace in Part 4.)

Creativity as an Expression of Your Desires

I also think of creativity as the ability to manifest your desires. In other words, what do you wish to create in your life? For example, I once coached a woman whose dream was to live in Washington, D.C. She felt most inspired around the field of politics and believed it made sense to live and work near the nation’s capital. She was in her forties and began to feel like if she didn’t make the move soon, it would never happen. We began working together on how she could consciously create the right opportunity that would enable her to move from Florida to this area. Within one year, she accomplished her goal by using innovative thinking, putting her attention and intention on the life she wished to create, and taking action steps along the way. Within one year, she realized her dream.

What do you wish to bring to life? To be more creative and innovative in the workplace? To pursue a new hobby? To discipline your children more effectively? To develop a closer relationship with your Creator? To figure out a new recipe for a decadent dessert? To create a new mobile phone or tablet app? To improve an existing product? To finish what you start? (In other words, acting upon your best ideas instead of procrastinating.) The list of what you can create is endless.

You may not have even identified what you would like to engage in, and that’s okay. There’s a great likelihood that before you even finish this book, you will be inspired to act upon an idea you’ve considered before or possibly something that has never before crossed your mind.

Is Creativity Learnable?

According to a study by George Land, it is our nature to be creative. One of the most obvious examples of natural creativity in action is observing children at play. Well-meaning, loving parents and grandparents buy their children what they think are educational, entertaining, or interesting toys only to see the kids toss them aside to play with cardboard boxes and pots and pans. Somehow they use their imaginations with these ordinary items and play for hours. As we grow older, however, we get away from our innate instincts.

CREATIVITY KEY

Adobe’s 2012 State of Create global benchmark study showed that even though 8 in 10 people feel that unlocking creativity is critical to economic growth, only 1 in 4 people believe they are living up to their own creative potential.

Are you someone who has failed to own your creative spirit? Did you leave your creative instincts behind in elementary school? Perhaps you have been told by someone else that you aren’t creative. Many people, particularly adults, have reached a point in their lives where they feel “I’m just not creative.” Are you one of them?

I can’t tell you how many times I have encountered people at an art gallery, a concert, or the theater and overheard them utter those very words. The sad part is that this statement—“I’m just not creative”—has become a belief for many people. That begs the question, “Is creativity learnable?”

Edward Glassman, PhD, former president of The Creativity College and former professor at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, found in his research on whether creativity is inherited that most creativity skills appear to be learnable with training. His experiments put an end to the myth that creativity is largely inherited. This is great news if you don’t think you’re creative or you feel that you’re not living up to your creative potential.

Like any skill, creativity takes practice, a certain way of thinking, and other imagination-building techniques.

Remembering What You’ve Forgotten

As a born creative, you already know how to be innovative and use your imagination. You may have simply forgotten or gotten out of shape. Just like you can’t expect to run a marathon without first working out and building up to it, you can’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself to create if you haven’t focused on that or properly prepared yourself. It’s all about “relearning” to tap into your creative self.

For example, when you’re looking at the accomplishments of a successful entrepreneur or an artist’s amazing work of art, you may say to yourself “I could never do that.” Because they make it look so natural, it’s easy for you to feel overwhelmed by their talents and use that to stop yourself or refrain from trying (see Chapter 6 for more on creative blocks like this).

However, you can’t forget the fact that those people didn’t come out of their mother’s womb with the skills it took to create what you’re seeing. If you take the time to speak with successful creatives, you will learn just what it took for them to achieve the level of success and creative output that you’re witnessing. More than likely, you’ll find they spent years developing their craft. So instead of starting with lofty expectations, you have to start small and build your creative skills over time.

CREATIVITY KEY

The next time you’re feeling you haven’t been blessed with the ability to create, remember that creativity isn’t a gift reserved for the select few. In fact, because creativity can be learned, it may be more accurate to refer to it as a skill, as well as a gift. While it’s true that some folks may appear to be more “gifted” than others in specific areas, with practice and commitment, your own creative skills will become more refined. Once you have found a way to consistently express your creativity, you may feel like you’ve been given a gift. From that perspective, creativity is a gift you gave to yourself. For that, be grateful and give yourself a pat on the back!

Deciding to Be Creative

I started this book by saying “Everyone is creative.” That has always been my personal philosophy, and it has been proven to me through the years time and time again. I haven’t worked with a single client who didn’t display some degree and form of creativity. It’s a matter of choosing whether to proactively engage in your creativity. It may seem to come more naturally to some than others, but that’s only because those people have decided to be creative. Yes, creativity is a decision! And fortunately, it’s one that you and I can make at any time.

As with any other skill, creativity can be cultivated. Think of creativity as a garden. You plant some seeds in a conducive environment, you water them and make sure they’re getting enough sunlight, you monitor their growth and remove the weeds that don’t belong, and eventually you reap the benefits of the harvest. The seeds are your initial thoughts and ideas. In the beginning, those thoughts and ideas might not seem like much. However, with further exploration, using your imagination, experimenting, and nurturing yourself along the way, eventually you will hit upon the creative expression you are seeking.

So how is deciding to be creative learnable? An obvious example is with the playing of a musical instrument. It’s a skill that takes practice, and the more you practice, the better you’ll get. While some people may seem to have more of an aptitude for learning to play an instrument, most people who really focus and apply themselves will be able to learn at least the basics. They may not become the next Mozart, but they can continue to perfect the skill by practicing and just playing for the fun of it.

Just knowing there is no “creativity gene” may already bring a sense of relief to you! You also can feel supported by the many methods, tools, and techniques that will help you improve your creative expression. It begins with a commitment and your decision to start right now.

DEFINITION

Aptitude is having a natural ability or inclination to do or learn something. It’s not required to partake in a creative activity, but having an aptitude for it might make it seem to come more naturally and easily.

The Least You Need to Know

• The arts are a wonderful example of creativity in action, but the initiation and execution of original ideas is not limited to any one particular area. There are acts of creation everywhere—in business and at home, with parenting, spirituality, and beyond.
• Creativity is not genetic—it’s a quality we all have that can be learned and developed with training and practice.
• Creativity does not discriminate. It is available to everyone!
• Creativity is a decision and a commitment. Decide and commit today to advance your creative nature!