Myth No. 1: Only geniuses can be creative
The first thing to know about creativity is that there is a difference between being creative and having a creative job or product made.
Creativity is an active process, it can relate to the procedure by which something is made, and it is not necessarily the final result or the level of innovation of the product created. There are thousands of people every day who, for example, paint pictures or write stories, yet all their work and the end result can be bland and lacking in inspiration and creativity.
On the other hand, some people carry out very simple daily activities such as shopping, for example, but find ways to do them better and more creatively than others have ever done before.
Ultimately creativity means: finding new ways to solve problems!
So we can also think about removing this term from our vocabulary if it scares us and instead uses phrases like “embrace change” or “be innovative“: these words might better capture some of the aspects that creativity means!
And then there is the good news, that you can always learn to be creative; Mahatma Gandhi considered the learning process fundamental enough to say, “Learn as if you were to live forever.” while for Henry Ford, it was almost a superpower because “Anyone who continues to learn remains young.“
This skill can then be developed and improved simply by paying more attention, asking questions about what works and what doesn’t, and continuing to learn new things.
Myth No. 2: You Must Be Inspired
Your second myth is that you are a victim of yourself—the myth of inspiration, of being inspired. People often think they need to be inspired to create something new or make a change. However, this is simply not true! When you are ready to make a change, you can draw inspiration from anything, place, or landscape, from your favorite movie, TV show, or book, your favorite band or musician, your family, and friends. The list goes on and on!
Very often, creative ideas could arise from our daily habits or memory, from an experience that we have lived in the past, a dormant or almost forgotten experience. This also happens to great writers of novels and books in general. Our past experiences can be a source or path for the search for creativity. It’s about being persistent and consistent with your ideas and not giving up, especially when your efforts seem fruitless.
Myth No. 3: all good ideas have already been realized
As previously mentioned, creativity can be seen as a process rather than just a result. And unfortunately, there is another myth that needs to be out of your head: that all the good ideas are already out there in the world.
There is no doubt there are great examples of creativity around us, some brilliant minds have come before us, and we have benefited from their knowledge, wisdom, and inventions. Our society has progressed thanks to those who preceded us. According to the belief that everything was invented by someone else, most people don’t believe they can create something new or better. And it’s easy to feel the same way…that all good ideas have already been taken and nothing new will ever come back.
But the truth is that there are still many ideas left, and there will always be new ones! There will always be new song lyrics, new music, new color schemes, and new ways to accomplish the same thing. So it’s never too late to keep learning to be more creative!
Don’t be discouraged. Anyone can be creative!
It is true that people often think that creatives are born just like that, with so many unique ideas in their heads and with an innate talent. But the truth is, anyone can train their brain to be more creative.
The hardest part is undoubtedly starting to believe that we all have a creative streak and that it is up to ourselves to improve every day. And the first step in this search for creativity is to stop believing in the false myths about creativity!
Don't miss out on our latest videos. Join us on Youtube!
