Creativity

So I was doing a little thinking last night. It was around 3 am and I couldn't sleep. These thoughts about creativity kept running through my mind. They went a little something like this.

Too often I feel, many of us are TRYING to be creative. We are dying to come up with something new, something that no one else has seen before, whether it's in art or object. So, we sit there and think... "What can I come up with? What's missing in the world that I can provide? What amazing piece of art can I create? C'mon there's got to be something...." Eventually frustration sets in and the only thing we've created is a more upset and depressed version of ourselves because we haven't met our own expectations of what we can do. OR the pressures we feel from an outside source, that may be pushing us to create. Either way, the method is wrong. Rarely does a great idea come about from sitting around thinking about what new thing you can do. It comes about through inspiration and freedom. I saw this quote recently that is perfect for this topic.

"Sometimes you've got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out."

So, let go of all that is making you WANT to create. Forget all of the pressure you may feel from yourself or outside sources. Create for yourself and do it because you enjoy it.

One last thought. Being creative doesn't necessarily mean you have to come up with something completely new. Take 3M for example. You know the company that doesn't make things, they just make them better? They've built a huge empire through improving objects. Be 3M! Whether you come up with something completely new or an improvement to an existing object or idea, you're still creating.

Be free and create!

~Nate