Every Day Is Creativity Day
also, so many Easter Eggs
Let’s explore creativity!
Don’t sweat it. Drawing will not be mandatory. Doodling, however, is always encouraged.
For some reason, when people hear “creativity” they almost automatically think someone is going to ask them to draw.
Do I understand that?
Nope.
Am I creative?
Yes.
Can I draw?
That’s debatable.
So, what is creativity?
Creativity is the ability to generate new ideas and solutions. Creativity is the process and practice that fosters the conception of that which did not exist before.
Yes, this encompasses the arts, but that’s only the beginning of what creative thought brings about. Every single thing in our world is the result of creativity…
Our understanding of physics and human bodies
Antibiotics
Lottery scratch cards
2 stroke engines
4 stroke engines
Milli Vanilli
Mozart
Porn Hub
Everything at the dollar store
Fruit stripe gum
Surgical robots
Space walks
You get it, right?
Creativity is more than drawing, painting, sculpture, music, or writing. It’s not just art. So, if you don’t fancy yourself “artsy”, you can stop sweating.1 Embodying creativity is a way of thinking and being, of interacting with the world. Creativity requires curiosity; it involves noticing, observing, thinking, pushing boundaries, asking questions, and even a small amount of procrastinating (after all, ideas need to incubate).
The best solutions comes from creative thought.
Above all, creativity is a daily practice. In their book, Creative Confidence, innovators Tom and David Kelley assert that “Creativity is something you practice, not just a talent you are born with.”
One way to accomplish this is by committing to repeat a simple creative act every day: take a selfie, invent a new sandwich combination, a quick drawing, compose a haiku, make a playlist, crochet a granny square. Some of these examples represent the “art” part of creativity. Many of your attempts will suck. But an equal amount will surprise you with how amazing they are.
That’s the whole point of practice.
If this seems intimidating or uninspiring for you, there are other ways of developing your creative muscles.
Divergent thinking is part of the backbone of creativity. Divergent thinking is open ended: puzzles with multiple answers, mind maps, brainstorming. While convergent thought, or working towards one single solution, is helpful in much of our lives, divergent thinking is where creative magic happens.
But it isn’t really magic. It takes work. These muscles need training and tending to. Consider other activities you can do: list making, mind mapping, free associating.
We’re going to spend this month exploring creativity and ways we can exercise those muscles every day. It can be an artistic practice. But it doesn’t have to be.
We’re going to do something a little different this week. I’m going to be popping into your inbox every day with a quick little inspiring/illuminating/edifying video about creativity for you to watch/listen to.
But also, you can stop believing that load of horse shit. Just because you can’t draw doesn’t mean you can’t make art. Maybe you just haven’t spent enough time exploring your creative side.
this post is everything. thank you. ♥️