The real secret to creativity? Do it to make you happy

Your mind must first be blank, empty of the things you should or should not do, empty of all traditions, empty of the past, the present or the future.

I thought I might want to write about creativity, something my family sometimes implied I have had since I was small. When I think about it it’s because they were creative, too. I learned from their examples. I grew up in a family of craftswomen. My grandmother sewed on her electric sewing machine and when it broke down she could take the whole thing apart and put it back together again. My mother cooked, crocheted and embroidered. Everyone at home had something to do during the times when we had nothing specific to do — what we now call down times.

But what, specifically, is creativity? I went skittering off to Wikipedia. It said: Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting). A knitted sweater, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. I suppose I can qualify myself as creative.

The definition continues, however: Scholarly interest in creativity is found in a number of disciplines: engineering, psychology, cognitive science, education, philosophy (particularly philosophy of science), technology, theology, sociology, linguistics, business studies, songwriting, and economics, covering the relations between creativity and general intelligence, personality type, mental and neurological processes, mental health, or artificial intelligence; the potential for fostering creativity through education and training; the maximization of creativity for national economic benefit, and the application of creative resources to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning. Omigod, that statement makes me want to pant. They should have just said every subject requires creativity.

I have a brilliant grandson. His mother called him an indigo child. What is that? I don’t really know. I think it might be a term for creative brilliance. But how did he learn it? I think he learned it mostly from example. They were not taught the way most children who go to traditional schools are taught. Traditional schools are those that have many rules on how to do things and the punishment for you if you did not follow those rules.

I went to Maryknoll College where they had the two-inch rules. Do not wear a neckline that is more than two inches lower than your collarbone. Sleeves must be no shorter than two inches from your elbow and skirts at least two inches below your knees. I was class president of our senior year. Fashion was changing in 1961. Skirts were moving up. On the last day of school my skirt stopped exactly below the knee. They didn’t allow me onstage because my skirt was too short. The next day we wore sleeveless backless dresses.

Creativity means forgetting the rules. Your mind must first be blank, empty of the things you should or should not do, empty of all traditions, empty of the past, the present or the future. It should just be blank and you should just be doing what you need to do on a daily basis. Drive your car. Play with your dog. Occasionally stare at a white wall. This is referred to as the period of incubation. Give your mind the space to think of something new. Be patient sometimes to the point of desperation unless you have a deadline. You must have a deadline when you definitely will stop creating and start working. That’s how important deadlines are.

When I make a necklace I will look at my beads and force myself to pick out a few and start work.Then somehow the work begins to flow. It can either flow smoothly or you can go stumbling and changing. But the important thing is you started and usually you will not stop until you finish or you know what you will do tomorrow.

Each of us has our own work style. You may be the type who wants to have a work surface where you can lay out your beads and plan your layout then go from there. Do it that way. Or you may be like me who sort of has her beads in front of her and just shapes as she goes along. Do it the way you want and do it the way that makes you happy. When you finish test your work by wearing it around the house. Finally admire what you have done. You must really like what you have done.

That may be the real secret to creativity: Do it to make you happy. Take the time to incubate but not all the time in the world. Discipline yourself with a deadline always. Work the way you want to work. Admire your work. If you like it I am sure someone else will like it too. And never ever forget the first rule: Throw away all the rules beforehand so you approach your creative work always with an open mind.

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