The Gift of Creativity

The Myth of the "Creative Type"

Somewhere along the way we have been tricked into thinking creativity belongs to a chosen few. The ones who were able to hold a paintbrush the right way and painted like Picasso, ideally by the age of four. The talented one who could sketch shapes and objects so realistically you would mistake them for a photograph.

And if you were not that kid you probably started to believe creativity was not yours. That it skipped you. That being creative meant being good at art, and if you could not draw a perfect eye or did not get picked for the school mural then maybe you just were not the creative type.

Rethinking What It Means to Be Creative

I was a creative and I was neither good at any of the above skills. I was a creative thinker, and I bet a few of you would give that label to the little versions of yourselves when you were younger.

Creativity grows from imagination, and hell, we were able to imagine things when we were young. We could fully imagine a world that was not real and still switch back when needed. Do not tell me you have not imagined your toys could speak to you.

We played through possibilities without knowing that this is exactly the kind of skill a creative uses. We played, found solutions, discovered and reinvented. We saw things differently from how they might appear at first glance. We questioned why, who and how.

Creativity means being open, to observe, to accept and to think. And while all of this happens in your head, at some point you need to find a way to let it out and express it.

Broadening the Definition of Creativity

I will not lie, I have mistaken creativity for something it is not. I did not always count writers, dancers, photographers, florists and others in the circle of creativity. Not until I understood all the forms and skills creativity brings with it.

As a designer I allow myself to nurture a childish mindset, to feel confident asking questions and to keep the conversation running inside my head.

But creativity can never be fully admired or recognised if you do not find a vent to let it out.

That expression does not need to be a painting or a perfectly crafted object. It can be a new way of solving a problem at work. Rearranging your space because it feels better that way. Writing your thoughts down. Trying something for no other reason than curiosity.

And do not feel pressured to choose only one way to express your creative side. I choose to write because I like to reflect. I enjoy researching because I like to think. I get excited to solve problems because I like to experiment. There are many ways to show your own version of creativity, and none of them need to be perfect.

Creativity, when nurtured, spills into every part of life, not only the traditionally artistic ones.

What Happens When We Reconnect With It

Something beautiful happens when we start using it again. We reconnect with a part of ourselves that has often been buried under years of structure, expectations and practicality. We begin to see options where we once saw limits.

If you work in the creative industry you are lucky, because you can confidently and comfortably claim the title Creative. But anyone can be creative. Sometimes it is just hard to own it.

Creativity is a life tool we have all been gifted. Get into the habit of acknowledging it and use it.

Life becomes more playful, more flexible and sometimes, just sometimes, a little more magical.