I spend a lot of time thinking about and interacting with the Arts, so you might think creativity comes naturally to me. And you would be correct.
But here is the deal; Creativity comes naturally to you too!
I know; perhaps you are thinking that you don’t have a creative bone in your body. This common belief is often based on the idea that creativity and talent are the same thing. They’re not though. Talent is a natural aptitude or skill, whereas creativity is the use of the imagination or original ideas. It is a drive to communicate with others, to express ourselves in our own unique way, to figure things out through exploration and focus. You are creative! Not everyone has a special talent.
You may have heard the expression “I can’t draw a straight line” or “I can’t carry a tune in a bucket” We say things like this because art and song are a primary language of creativity. You can see this natural expression fully executed in children who dance, and sing, and create art with abandon. Fear of not doing it well or right sneaks in as awareness of our need to be accepted and respected grows, keeping our urge to freely communicate in these ways tightly shut off and hidden unless we see ourselves as possessing the “talent” to do these well. Statements that lament our lack of ability only serve to stifle the fullness of “you” and the enjoyment of living and connecting with others.
I think we consider creativity a nice attribute to possess. But it’s not that. It is vital to our humanity. It is through creative expression that we heal each other. Maybe a story is upsetting but causes me to understand the perspective of another. Or maybe not. Maybe it forces a conversation about the things I don’t agree with. Or, think of when you hear a song and can’t help but belt it out in unison because the words resonate so deeply. Art does this too. You are drawn to it because the artist created something that speaks to a deeper part of you, a feeling words cannot easily express but our creative nature intuitively understands.
What’s important is the platform our creativity provides; it is a place where we can connect and engage and argue and agree and express our individuality. And to grow.
I imagine creativity as a fire that burns deep inside all of us. The more you tend that fire, the larger the flames, and more attractive it becomes. Kindling for that fire is found in your passions and in what you love. You must slow down and take a look at life and love and beauty as well as disharmony and fear and unfairness in order to discover what it is that lights you up, makes you angry, or inspires your soul. Ignore it, and the flames turn into barely glowing embers. You may not always enjoy the heat, but it is better than enduring the coldness of a predictable and routine life. Using that kindling is sometimes scary. We want to be accepted and admired which might force us to ignore our passions in lieu of conformity and doing what is expected. But this takes the color out of life and we are reduced to an existence instead of an experience.
It is creativity that drives us to enhance our basic human needs of food, water, clothing, sleep, and shelter. Food not only nourishes, but communicates our culture and traditions. It is used to remind us of home when we taste and smell foods from our childhood. Water is bottled, flavored, fizzed, and added to with everything from vitamins to caffeine. We’ve built mattresses and produced sheets and pillows and soft blankets to make sleep more comfortable. And basic shelter? Well just look at the popularity of home decorating shows! Once we are able to have our basic needs met, our creative nature longs to make it more comfortable, more enjoyable, more pleasing, more “me”!
Creativity is a form of language, unique to each of us, like our fingerprints. It is the space where we grapple with our loves and passions in an effort to be understood and to belong. It is how we connect and how we disagree. It is how we hurt and how we heal. So, if you want to really live and connect with your family, and your friends, and your community, you must allow your creativity to burn brightly. This gives wings to your love and passion and helps make the world a much more interesting place to live.
Tammy McCoy is Executive Director of The Capitol & Night Cap Listening Lounge in Burlington.
The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of TSPR or its license holder, Western Illinois University.
Diverse viewpoints are welcomed and encouraged.