Creativity.
Every one of us was born with imagination and creativity. We didn’t need help concocting imaginary worlds, stories, and characters. We entertained ourselves, our friends and our families we these tales – often casting them into the story and inviting them to play a part. We created with the items in front of us. We saw the world, full of wonder and beauty.
And then somewhere along the way, we lost the sense of wonder, imagination, beauty. We still needed to be creative. But we lost the fuel for the process.
It took me some time as an adult to come to terms with my identity as a creative. It took even longer for me to begin to realize that I needed to learn how to manage my creative process. I now read every link that comes my way on the subject, every book I can make time for and look to learn from every creative I meet.
As I reflected recently on some of the important pieces of my creative process, I identified three that have been supremely helpful.
1. Embrace boundaries.
The stereotypical artist or creative detests boundaries and limitations being placed on their work or project. The real flesh and blood artists and creatives are too wise and experienced to embrace the stereotype and respond like a Diva who found a red Skittle in her bowl of supposed all orange candies. Boundaries do not limit creativity; they actually focus and unleash it. The challenge of boundaries forces options off the table and introduces new ones on to it. Boundaires introduce honesty into the equation and the clarity that bring facilitates better art. The worst thing you can tell an artist is say “you have a blank page, do whatever you like.”
As a writer and a speaker, a topic and a word/time limit are supremely helpful gifts. As a pastor, having a Bible passage given to me for a sermon facilitates greater work than having to go find one myself!
2. Solicit feedback.
We all get tired eyes after a while. We’re so close to our product, our work that we lose perspective. I read an interview with Bono from the early 2000s where he talked about why he never went off and pursued a solo career. He said that the studio work with a band can be frustrating because of opinions. But he would “never want to be in the studio alone.” He was convinced that the best work came out of collaboration and honest, difficult exchanges.
We all need coaches, mentors, even focus groups to provide the feedback and insight we need. Even if it is a gut reaction before a major release, inviting other people into the creative process increases the likelihood of future success.
As a speaker, I have a friend who listens to or watches me speak (live or online later). His feedback over the last several years has been invaluable to helping me improve.
3. Share generously.
When you win, be generous. When you lose, be generous.
In his best-selling book, Love is a Killer App, Tim Sanders goads his readers to “relelentlessly give away your love, knowledge and network each day”. Sanders recognized the we get more to give my giving. We get better at creativity by (spoiler alert) creating!
Too many artists live in a world of scarcity, where ideas are never shared and secretly guarded. Unlike other muscles, our creativity muscle actually stronger by use – we actually become more creative by creating.
The place where scarcity reigns in action. There is not enough action, implementation, hustle or focus on creative projects today. I’ve had to realize
I have my own challenges too in this areas.
On a week where I have to write for more than one purpose, I often wonder if one writing project will pull from the others. In that moment, I have to ask myself – will one project cause others to suffer because I fear having nothing to share? Or will the creative wind I put in my sails for one, raise the level of quality and inspiration for the next work?
Make something beautiful, aritist, creative today and offer it to the world. The making and sharing makes you stronger, better and more focused on offering yourself and your art as a gift to the world in the future.
Embrace limitations. Solicit feedback. Share generously. These three steps have led me to write more, tighten up my focus, minimize weakness and grow stronger as an artist and a creative.
Scott Savage is a husband, father, writer and pastor. He serves as the Minister to Young Adults at North Phoenix Baptist Church. He blogs at thejoshuacollective.com. When Scott laughs, his cackle can be heard around the world. Follow his daily adventures on Twitter (@scottesavage).
