My heart breaks a little whenever I hear someone say they’re not a creative person.
Often, they just mean they don’t consider themselves to be ‘good’ at art.
Unfortunately, art and creativity are synonymous in many people’s minds, so if they don’t do art (well), they don’t consider themselves a creative person. We shouldn’t let these misconceptions go unchallenged, else we’ll continue to miss out on a whole lot of potential for joy, understanding and innovation.
To think you are not creative is to cut yourself off from a core component of human life and all the joy it brings.
Creativity is an inherent part of being a human. It’s how we adapt, solve problems, survive, evolve. It’s not a force that is outside of ourselves—it is ourselves.
One way to think about being creative is to say ‘creativity is connecting things’. And we humans do that all day every day, whether we realise it or not.
Could be how high you pull your socks up, the food you prepare, connecting a foot with a ball – the fun comes from playing with those connections, the decisions you get to make, and discovering what happens as a result.
Opting for a contrasting tone, hue or finish for the wood and wall paint in your new bedroom.
Whether you choose to say “hi”, “hello” or “YASS QUEENS!” when you cartwheel into a room.
Deciding whether or not to button your top button, and how that makes you feel about yourself. 👖
So many and varied possible moments of joy, curiosity, play – tiny, silly, momentous, sublime – whenever you choose to pay attention to your choices.
Have a play with your choices today (and every day). See what you create and the glorious benevolent mischief you can get up to.
Look, just draw a daft smiley face with your ketchup for goodness sake and rejoice in your creativity!
