{"id":601,"date":"2015-11-23T18:27:15","date_gmt":"2015-11-23T18:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=601"},"modified":"2025-12-31T16:26:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T23:26:15","slug":"the-creativity-myth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=601","title":{"rendered":"The Creativity Myth"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who are creative, and those who believe the lie that they\u2019re not.<\/p>\n

The idea that creativity belongs only to a select, gifted few\u2014while everyone else is left to languish\u2014is a complete myth. Everyone has the capacity to be creative. Unfortunately, for many people, that capacity was stifled at a young age. Even more unfortunate is when it is never reclaimed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In truth, creativity is never truly lost\u2014only neglected. Abandoned in favor of the belief that it never existed to begin with.<\/p>\n

\n

Creativity Atrophies\u2014but It Never Disappears<\/h3>\n

Creativity, like a muscle, will atrophy when underused. It must be exercised.<\/p>\n

The good news is that it can never atrophy into extinction. The flame of creativity can always be rekindled. That process may require effort\u2014sometimes difficult effort\u2014much like physical therapy is required to restore strength after injury. Severely malnourished creativity may need intensive care, patience, and persistence.<\/p>\n

The first obstacles to overcome are false beliefs: inability, skepticism, and doubt. To be creative is a choice. It is a purposeful and conscious shift in mindset.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to begin.<\/p>\n

\n

1. Accept That You Are Creative<\/h3>\n

Creativity is part of our divine endowment<\/a> as humans. You have this capacity, just like everyone else.<\/p>\n

Believing this may require redefining your self-image. To change your beliefs about creativity, you must stop telling yourself that you are not creative. Abolish the negative internal dialogue that says I can\u2019t<\/em> or I\u2019m not that kind of person<\/em>.<\/p>\n

You can create.
You are creative.<\/p>\n

\n

2. Develop Skills<\/h3>\n

Creativity has nothing to do with drawing ability.<\/p>\n

People are not creative because they draw; they draw because they love the creative process. While drawing skills are not a prerequisite for creativity, skill development of some kind is essential<\/strong>. Skill\u2014the ability to do something well\u2014is one of the raw materials of creativity.<\/p>\n

Importantly, the ability to develop<\/em> skills is itself a skill. And once you\u2019ve done it once, you can do it again.<\/p>\n

Even musical prodigies like Mozart were not magically creating from nothing. They mastered the fundamentals early. Creativity does not emerge ex nihilo<\/em>\u2014it grows from learning, practice, and experimentation.<\/p>\n

\n

3. Learn to Make Connections<\/h3>\n

Creativity is not only physical\u2014it is mental.<\/p>\n

The ability to make connections<\/a> between ideas, people, or experiences must also be exercised. In Creative Confidence<\/em>, Tom and David Kelley describe empathy as a crucial creative skill\u2014the ability to relate to and understand others.<\/p>\n

Jacob Bronowski, in The Creative Mind<\/em>, describes creativity as the discovery of hidden likenesses between seemingly unrelated things. This is the same mechanism at work in metaphor, poetry, and storytelling.<\/p>\n

He also describes the unique relationship between creator and observer: meaning deepens when the observer rediscovers for themselves what the creator has revealed.<\/p>\n

\n

4. Produce<\/h3>\n

Make production a greater passion than consumption.<\/p>\n

Use your skills. Use your ability to make connections. Produce something\u2014anything. It doesn\u2019t even have to be physical.<\/p>\n

Production is where creativity begins to enrich life. And as Bronowski points out, meaning multiplies when both the creator and<\/em> the observer benefit from the result.<\/p>\n

Art, music, poetry, literature, relationships, meals\u2014everything meaningful must first be created before it can be enjoyed.<\/p>\n

\n

Reclaiming What Was Always Yours<\/h3>\n

Once you stop believing the lie that you are not creative\u2014especially if that belief was rooted in a lack of drawing skills\u2014you are empowered to use creativity to enrich your life<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chances are, you already have skills.
You can make connections.
You can produce.<\/p>\n

You are creative\u2014even if you can\u2019t draw.<\/p>\n

What will you create today?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Creativity is not a talent reserved for a few. Learn why creativity is universal, how it\u2019s developed, and how anyone can reclaim it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-creativity","without-featured-image"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6v7yg-9H","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":675,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?p=675","url_meta":{"origin":601,"position":0},"title":"Creativity Changes The World","author":"normasue","date":"September 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Creativity isn\u2019t just for artists. 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