Ten Myths Surrounding Creativity
Do you hold the deep-seated belief that it takes a certain type of person to be truly creative? That you have to be talented, artistic, clever, or perhaps come from a well to do background to be a “creative type”? Many of us have been socialised into believing that creativity is a special quality, which you simply either have or haven’t. In modern times creativity has taken on an unearthly mystersism. Creativity has been put on a pedestal.
Here are the ten most common myths surrounding creativity. Do you any of them ring true about your own thoughts about your own and other people’s creativity?
1) Only certain “types” of people are actually creative. For instance individuals who work in the arts, such as musicians, artists, thespians and writers.
2) That it is a quality that you either have or haven’t. Some people are simply born to be creative, whilst other individuals just simply aren’t.
3) If you haven’t been very creative up till now in life you are probably never going to be. Surley you would have been pursuing creative activities if you had a genuine interest?
4) You have to be intelligent and clever. How can you be creative if you’re a rotten speller? Or if you can’t even draw? To be creative you have to have a gift or talent.
5) Creativity is purely a passtime associated with hobbies and leisure time. It is just creative fluff and not real work.
6) Being creativity is certainly not a sensible activity and it certainly won’t pay the bills. It is unrealistic to think you can make any sort of living from being creative.
7) It’s silly and frivolous, an undisciplined activity which is a waste of time.
8) Creativity is for Crazy, wacky types of people.
9) Being creativity is childs play! It’s something that we all do when we are young but it’s just a stage and we eventually grow out of it.
10) Creativity should be effortless and it shouldn’t need to be worked at. It should come naturally or not at all.
Do any of these beliefs ring true for your own thinking and thoughts about your own and other peoples creativity?
Lara responds:
Posted: October 4th, 2009 at 12:05 pm →
By the very nature of nature itself, all human beings are creative. It is just a matter of UNLEASHING and developing our creative spirit. There is no such thing as a “bad idea”, only an idea which can then lead to bigger and brighter ideas. Surround ourselves with creative people and their creative energy will be contagious!