Creativity Begets Creativity

I used to worry that my creativity was finite – that I’d never be able to replicate any successful creation and that this time would be the only time. It was almost as if I felt like it was a fluke – a lucky chance – that anything I had created seemed decent.

But as the great Maya Angelou once said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

It may be true that every original art piece we create is one-of-a-kind and cannot be replicated. But the fear of being ‘tapped out’ – that you only have one good creation in you – is just our cultures way of telling that same sad story about scarcity and fear.

Well, let me tell you something: if we let that story bleed into our creative spheres and squash our dreams, we’ll never know what our potential could have been.

I believe we’re all infinitely creative. That we all have a desire to contribute something original to this world. Something of ourselves.

It may not exist on paper, or in a block of wood. It might come in the form of an idea or a loaf of bread, an act of service or an appreciation for an aesthetic. Any time we see the world in a new or original way, we are being creative.

It’s been a long time since I put brush to paper. Something I used to find so therapeutic and soothing, especially during times of stress. But in the last several months certain taps got shut off inside. There was a pulling inward that meant some risks needed to be reigned in (temporarily).

That is, until today. With a little nudge from Kasia at Art Everything UK, I finally mustered the courage, and made the time to organize a few supplies and play. Yes… play.

I’ve got to admit, what I produced is slightly embarrassing. I’m rusty at this flexible way of seeing paper and ink.

Nevertheless, I posted it on IG. Not for accolades or affirmation, but as a reminder to myself that there’s no need to hide behind my self-judgement or desire for perfection.

We’re all on our own journeys and a BIG part of the process is humility. The acknowledgement that we’re all still growing and we’re all still building our muscles in some capacity.

Comparison (and procrastination) are the great enemies of creativity. They can stop us in our tracks and have us assuming that we won’t ever get better. But to be completely honest, it takes bravery and trust to willingly suck at the beginning of any journey – be it learning to walk as a 1 year old, or learning to draw as a 30-something year old.

Don’t let your fear of humiliation, failure, or overpowering self-doubt stop you from picking up that creative thing you’ve been meaning to try. Don’t let yourself continue saying, Oh yeah. I’ve always wanted to do that.

Instead, take a deep breath, prepare yourself for the sting of being bad at something at the beginning, and take the plunge… or baby step.

It’s so much more interesting to live our lives stumbling, even landing on our noses, than sitting on the sidelines hoping that we won’t ever be made the fool.

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