I’m just beginning a five week Ecourse called Creatively Made Home, whose goal, among others, is to help us “make life beautiful in the everyday.” Looking through some of the discussions, I noticed comments by a couple of members stating that they were afraid to create for fear of doing it wrong, for fear of being inadequate.
It got me thinking about all the ways there are to be creative and to nurture our creativity…and all the ways there are to, well, not….not be creative, not nurture and enhance the creativity that we all have.
Want to know how to not be creative? First, think creativity is reserved for people who went to art school. Spend lots of time on blogs and Pinterest, seeing what others are doing and creating, instead of doing and creating yourself. Wait until you have an entirely free weekend/a babysitter/a day off before beginning your project. Make lots of lists of ways to be creative.
How to not be creative? Wait until your house is completely clean and your to-do list is complete before giving yourself time to create. Read lots of magazine articles on “finding your creativity.” Be afraid of making mistakes. Listen to and take to heart all the feedback people give you upon completion of a project. Make sure your idea/project is “on trend” and that people will like it. Watch lots of TV. Be afraid of nails in the wall/choosing the wrong paint color/uneven seams. Think and do the exact same things you think and said yesterday. Make sure you get enough positive twitter/facebook/instagram feedback before starting a project. Be afraid to fail.
Go to the library and check out lots of books on “how to be creative.” Think small. Forget how to dream. Listen to the voice inside your head insisting that someone else can do it better. Think like everyone else. Put yourself last. Think creativity happens to other people. Wait until your kids are in school (or out of the house) before you can start being creative. Insist on perfection. Don’t jump right in. Think you’re too old/too young/too out of practice to be creative. Wait to buy the “good” fabric/supplies until you get really good at this creative thing. Don’t take a risk.
How about you? What creativity killers can you add to the list?
Judy h.
Wednesday 24th of October 2012
Be afraid of spending $$ for the supplies only to have my "creation" turn out to be a "throwaway".