The Courage to be Creative
Why should you attempt to be a creative person since there are so many potential risks that may be experienced as a result?
There is an increased risk that you might fail at something you attempt. You may be required to persuade others who are not utilizing their creative skills that your idea is viable, or you may be required to have some level of political skills to navigate through treacherous waters. To be creative you will need to muster the internal strength to be flexible along with the willingness to stretch yourself to new levels. And that’s where the rub lies.
Let’s face it. Being creative takes courage. It’s just easier to sit there quietly and do what everyone believes you are supposed to do including yourself.
“Don’t live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable.” Wendy Wasserstein
It takes courage be creative. Do you have the courage to be creative and live the life you were meant to live?
What do you need to do to be more creative in your life?
Confidence is one of the major factors that differentiates those who are highly creative and those that are not. Those who have succeeded in generating creative ideas and seeing those creative ideas come to life are more willing to continue making the effort to be creative than those who have not been able to see their creativity realized. Being creative takes practice and patience. We all have creative ideas and have the ability to make those ideas real. The difference lies in a person’s confidence and determination to generate those ideas and then turn them into reality.
When you generate creative ideas it takes confidence, practice, and tremendous patience.
“Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong.” Peter T. McIntyre
We have to dig deep to find our creativity. The traditional education system does not encourage creativity and the workplace does not expect it. So, where do you find it?
Most people are just coasting through life doing what they think is expected of them, or worse yet they are doing just the bare minimum to get by. There are those rebellious few who are not just coasting through life and this is why they are considered “rebellious in nature”, “crazy”, “on the edge”, “over-the-top”, or “out there”. It really doesn’t have to be this way. If you are called any of these things, in all reality you are on the creative path and it is a good thing. Let me be the first to let you know that these labels are really good ones and badges of honor.
“The creative person is both more primitive and more cultivated, more destructive, a lot madder and a lot saner, than the average person.” Frank Barron, Think, November-December 1962
To expand your creativity let go of your inhibitions and be willing to be a little outrageous. Make yourself do something outrageous every day. Take time to generate creative ideas. Write them down, dream about them, work them, and grow them. Nothing impossible will happen unless you start believing in the impossible.
At your workplace take time every day to focus your energy on creative ideas with your associates. Explore new ideas to solve challenges that exist in your company. Develop a creativity “Hit List” that is posted in the break room for people to think about. Encourage everyone to add his or her creative ideas to the list.
Make creativity an “expectation” not the exception.
When creativity becomes the expectation, then you will be more likely to make the effort to be more creative and let go of your inhibitions. Enroll other people into your creative energy and encourage them to have the courage to be creative.
I would like to let you in on a little secret that is not so secret. You were born a creative person. You have tremendous natural creativity already inside of you. You can do anything you want to do.
“Trust that little voice in your head that says “Wouldn’t it be interesting if…” And then do it.” Duane Michals
The challenge is to let it loose! Years of being suppressed and fearful of what people might think if you step outside the box have put a cap on your creativity. Pop it today!
It takes courage to be creative. How are you unleashing your creativity?