Room for Creativity

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. – Pablo Picasso

In one of her “The Artist’s Way” series book, Julia Cameron says that creativity is born in generosity, and flourishes where there is a sense of safety and acceptance. If we feel safe and accepted in a certain environment or group setting, we will generally be comfortable to be ourselves and open up more. If we feel threatened, judged, or unaccepted in a certain environment, we can become defensive and closed.

Julia adds that every creative endeavor thrives in an environment of safety and one of the quickest ways to create this environment is to provide structure. What is ideal is a structured mixture of scheduled and unscheduled time. Scheduled time will help individuals stay focused and get tasks done while unscheduled time will provide them room for spontaneity and inspiration.

Supporting the creatives…

There are many ways to support creatives who create and publish their works. There are various forms of art from photography, videography, painting, singing, dancing, drawing, graffiti and many more. Creatives need visibility, appreciation, and respect from their audience which can encourage and help them to continue creating. While what is considered “art” is subjective, we can appreciate the work of the creatives who represent a crucial part of our society.

Creatives use their imagination, tools, skills, time and efforts to create and publish their work in various platforms. A few might have resources to amplify their work but many can surely use our support in whatever form possible!

To sincerely support creatives’ work, we can…

  • Like, Comment or Share on social media
  • Write a message to them to show appreciation
  • Acknowledge their work verbally when meeting in person
  • Write a blog on their story or work
  • Invite them on a podcast or recommend them as guests to a podcast show
  • Donate to their platform
  • Give them a platform to share their work
  • Give them due credit if their work is shared on a medium
  • Buy their work
  • And so much more…

The creative narrative

“She is so creative.”

“He is really creative.”

“That’s the creative team.”

Creativity is hard to define. Each one of us is creative – that creativity can be seen at our homes, workplaces, the hobbies we have, the activities we do, and it can be anywhere and everywhere.

What type of environment helps in facilitating creativity could be a more interesting question to ask. In my experience, the initial moments of feedback given to an individual who is exploring her or his creativity is critical. In those initial moments, the words and behavior (feedback/response) absorbed by the individual will shape how he or she sees creativity and the world around them. These earlier experiences can form a narrative and a fixed or growth mindset can be set towards creativity which can have a profound effect in the individual’s ensuing years. Creativity is a muscle and it gets better through exercises and engagements.

All of us are creative in our own unique ways. Change the narrative, change the outcome!