The Secret to Being Creative

Do you consider yourself creative?

Chances are you said no, but I want to convince you otherwise.

When the word “creative” is used, we imagine a beautiful painting. Or a cleverly designed building. Or a novel that is so well written it moves the deepest parts of our soul. All of which require creativity.

We equate creativity with gifts and aquired skill and recognition. And if this is what comes to mind, then not many can say yes.

But the word “creative” means so much less. And so much more.

It simply implies the act of creating. According to dicitonary.com, creative can be thought of as “productive.”

photo by Mads Boeker (creative commons)

My friend, and poet, Reid Bush has spent his life being creative. He was cutting his grass one day and was thinking about a friend of his. Specifically, he wondered if his friend ever drew.

“WHY I CAN’T DRAW,” HE SAID

Oh sure you can,” I answered him right back.

All it takes is something that makes a mark,

something to make a mark on,

then moving your marker hand a little–

this way–or that.

That’s all.

Anybody can make a mark–

which is all the damn art gods ask.

But they do ask that.

I have used the same excuse many times.

• I can’t draw.
• I can’t write.
• I can’t sculpt.
• I can’t love so much that I end up giving all that I have away, even my very self.
• I can’t create.
• I can’t.

But, as Reid suggests, I can make a mark.

The mark might be crooked. The shadows around my mark might be a bit off. And the different marks together might not result in a recognizable shape.

But if I got up today and made a mark. Then I was creative.

The truth is that creativity has nothing to do with skill. It has nothing to do with beauty. It has nothing to do with how we feel about our creation. And everything with doing the work.

The secret to being creative is to stop saying “I can’t,” and to start doing the work.

(If that statement resonates with you, considering sharing it. You can tweet it by clicking here.)

Doing the work is all that is asked of us. And that is enough to make it beautiful.

What is Needed to Be Creative?

Reid reminds us that it doesn’t take much. A few supplies kept in every kindergarten classroom. A marker. A piece of paper. A hand. And then the will to move that hand.

But perhaps it takes just one thing more. The letting go of all the expectations we have for ourselves. The same expectations that make us think we can’t.

Are you creative? What keeps you from being so?

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