A Brief Essay On Creativity

For whatever reason, the concept of creativity has been plaguing my mind for the past few weeks. By plaguing, I mean I’ve been really pondering what lies at the root of “creativity” – what are the guidelines for who and what is or isn’t creative?

Starting strong with a quick grammar lesson, the word “creative” comes from the Latin infinitive “creo,” meaning “to make.” So to be creative, essentially, is to make something, anything. Keeping with this train of thought, anyone who makes or has ever made anything, then, is able to unequivocally call themselves “creative.” Right? (More on this later)

Then there’s the whole broad, overarching term in the workforce dubbed “creatives,” generally in reference to anyone in an artistic profession (of sorts). If those are the individuals and career paths that receive the “creative” acclaim, then what does that make every other person and profession? “The Uninspired?” And if creativity is so coveted, why are creatives so often grossly underpaid?

Growing up, this sense of being creative always concerned me. If I’m not an artist, then I’m not creative; However, I am creative, but I don’t want to grow up to be an artist. I like to draw and paint, but I’m not the best. I can sing and play guitar, but I’m not sure I want to be a musician. I really like math, and that’s not creative. I also really like fashion – that’s creative. All the while, I like science, business, and all these other things that aren’t categorized as “creative.” Whether or not I was creative became a sort of insecurity.

Perhaps what drove this ten-year-old’s dilemma on creativity were my grandparents: a grandfather who was a world-class aeronautics physicist, Anatol, and a grandmother who was a sculptress, painter, etc… Aydeth. A textbook scientist and an artist to the core. Yin and Yang.

Being young, I held great reverence for my grandmother as I grew up. Art was “cool” and “feminine,” while being a scientist was “boring” and “masculine” (societally inherited connotations are icky, but we all experience them). Hence, I developed an underlying sense that I needed to be considered “creative.” Growing up, I found my passion for the more analytical which ultimately has led me to my current state of pondering the creative and how it all fits.

I’m not a painter or a musician. I’m not a poet and I don’t write whimsical sagas. Yet, I’ve always been a creator – and not in the sense of social media content (although, I do love to do that – sue me). For the longest time I didn’t think my various creative pursuits dubbed me “creative.” Regardless of how anyone else perceives me, my ingrained notion of creativity has long been synonymous with the artistic. I’m realizing how false that narrative is. If you create anything, you’re creative in my book.

During the course of my recent mental health and wellness journey that has been so bluntly documented in previous blogs, I’ve recognized the importance of creation. For me, writing this blog, making content for my social channels, doing some small craft, even throwing together a well-thought outfit has been cathartic. The necessity I feel to make something is sharp in my mind’s eye and I’ve learned that even the smallest bits of creation and acts of creativity are enough to boost my mood or remind me of my worth.

We become so preoccupied with the constant cycling of our lives and careers, sitting down to release creative energy becomes lost in the ebb and flow of the day-to-day. A drive to create is innately human, no matter the outcome and the desire to “make” shouldn’t be neglected.

I’ve also experienced first-hand the insecurity that comes with exercising creativity. People are so judgmental… I’m over it. I don’t need someone to question why I write what I write and how I write it, nor do I need someone sneering at how I pieced together an outfit or posed for a social post. I’m of the opinion that the process of creation is beautiful in itself. I’m an advocate for letting people do as they please, sans unnecessary and uncalled for criticism.

As I’ve worked on this piece I’ve attempted to answer the question: “What is the point I’m trying to make?” Frankly, the inability to answer said question has been bothering me. For the sake of completion, I’m concluding my point is that everyone is creative and creation is therapeutic. The act of creation should be encouraged and should not merely be left to the “creatives.” Even my scientist grandfather had his creative side and I witnessed him express it.

Sharing your creations with the world can be incredibly daunting and I’m not necessarily recommending everyone follow my lead and begin publishing (unless it’s something you’re keen on). The fear of judgment is all too pertinent, however I am suggesting we all take a little more time to exercise the creativity we each have and accept the many forms creativity can take for each individual. Creativity is not an exclusive club, nor is it black and white contrary to what ten-year-old Izzy may have thought.