Creativity: The Power to Make Your Soul Grow
I used to believe I wasn’t creative. As a child, I spent a lot of time drawing, but in my mind, I was not an artist, and I believed I wasn’t creative. Why? Because I couldn’t draw out of my own imagination – I still can’t. I always use photos or other people’s artwork for inspiration, so it feels more like copying. Because the ideas aren’t mine, I don’t think of myself as an artist. But later in life, I came to see that every person is creative.
Yes, You are Creative!!
I was in my thirties when God opened my mind up to see how creativity is everywhere – it’s so much more than my narrow view of what an artist is. We are all creative, but we are unique in our creative expression. Some people have a knack for creating beautiful spaces, or presenting a meal in artful ways. Others cook and go “off recipe”, experimenting with new flavours. My dad builds engines from scratch with a lathe, my mom sews and embroiders, and my sister writes. I have friends who write poetry or songs, others who take photos, others who do crafts or floral arrangements. The problem isn’t our lack of creativity, it’s our mindsets.
Curiosity Unlocks Creativity
When I was in elementary school, and junior high, my best friend was exceptionally smart and talented, much more so than I was. Inevitably, I compared myself with her and I always came up short. But it wasn’t my lack of talent that held me back, it was my self-imposed judgment of “not being creative or artistic.” But I can’t afford to keep listening to my inner critic. Because nothing kills creativity quicker than criticism. Something profound changes when we move from critical to curious. By its very nature, creativity is exploring, playing and experimenting. So it can’t flow in a critical environment. But when we stop judging ourselves as “not creative” or judging our creative work as “not good enough”, creativity starts to flow. Criticism is noticing, with a heavy side of judgment. It always leads to fear of failure. But curiosity is noticing without judgment. It’s the key to unlocking creativity.
Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset
Let’s dig a little deeper into our mindset, because it’s crucial, not only for art but for all areas of life and creativity. I never realized how ‘fixed’ my mindset was until I read the book by Carol Dueck). For those of you who haven’t heard the terms ‘fixed’ vs ‘growth’ mindset, here is my general understanding. Our mindsets are the way we see and interpret the world. A fixed mindset believes that we are either born creative, smart, talented (etc), or we’re not. When we have a fixed mindset, we stop trying because we believe “this is the way I am”. But a growth mindset believes nothing is permanent or ‘fixed’ – we can grow and get stronger, smarter – there’s always room for growth.
“There is no failure, only learning“ is a phrase I just heard this past year, though I’m not sure who said it first. The great Einstein is quoted as saying, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” Once we embrace a growth mindset, the possibilities are endless.
The Why not the What
I get so caught up in ‘what’ I create instead of ‘why’ I create. And that’s when I get stuck. Because it’s not what we create, or how good or bad it is that matters. It’s the ‘why’ that matters. Why should we create? For me, creating art is more than a way to express. It’s learning to see. It’s a way of being. I love how Kurt Vonnegut puts it: “Practice any art, no matter how well or badly, in order to make your soul grow.” (paraphrase) Listen to Ian McKellen read the full quote in his inspiring speech.
It’s Never too Late to Create
It’s never too late to create. There’s a man from my church in his mid-seventies who’s an inspiring example of courage in creativity. He’s been a farmer all his life but during Covid he started working with wood and resin, and since then has created many beautiful works of art, one of which is a beautiful coffee table now sitting in my living room. He probably wouldn’t call himself an artist. But he is…and so are you. So practice art. It doesn’t matter what, or how ‘good’ your work is. Explore. Try new things. Get curious. Silence your inner critic and remember – it’s never too late. There is always room for growth.
Check out the cushions on the couch made my my mom!