The Five Deadly Myths About Creativity

Creativity is a fragile thing in modern society. If you ever run into any of the following myths about creativity make sure to lend a hand encouraging the growth of creativity.

1. Only certain kinds of people (talented, educated, smart, etc.) can be creative

Everyone can be creative. It does not take a special knowledge or talent to be creative. In fact, sometimes the closer you are to an area of knowledge the less creative you are. A fresh perspective from a total outsider often generates the most creative ideas.

Of course, this does not mean that knowledge and training are unimportant contributors to creativity. But there is a distinct difference between having a creative idea and having a good creative idea. Sitting in judgment of a creative idea is almost the opposite of being creative.

What it often boils down to is how you see yourself. If you see yourself as being very creative then you probably are. If you see yourself as not being creative then you tend to stick with tried and true ways, giving up on creativity along the way. But the ability to be creative is always there for you independent of talent, aptitude or education.

2. Creativity is too disruptive, chaotic, undisciplined, out of control

True, you need to let go of certain limitations and inhibitions to be at your creative best. But at the same time creativity is the sum total of all your previous life experiences.

What you see with creativity is almost never what you get. Many of the most creative ideas in history occurred when someone was taking a break, sleeping or having a beer with a friend.

But what you don't see is all the hard work that went on behind the scenes. Years of self-discipline, dedication and focus often led up to that one great creative moment. Like an iceberg, you only see part of it. And what you see is not always the business end of things.

3. We are already at our best. We don't need creative new ideas

There will always be people who want things to stay exactly as they are. There is a human need to settle in on our old habits, be comfortable, content and secure. But if we don't continue to change, grow and develop creative new ideas we will become as extinct as the dinosaur.

Creativity and security are opposite sides of the same coin. For creative people, dissatisfaction with the status quo is always a problem. But like many things in life, the truth is somewhere in between. We need to balance both stability and creativity.

4. Creativity is a dreamer's luxury, strictly for lightweights and scatterbrains

Creativity is hard, disciplined and important work. Make no mistake about that. The fact that it often energizes you and gives you a deep sense of self-satisfaction does not change the fact that it is hard work.

Far too many people in modern society feel that if you are happy and energized by what you are doing then it cannot be work. Or even that you are a lazy daydreamer and simply not working hard enough.

5. We need more science and technology, not creativity

On most levels, technology and creativity are completely different things. Except, you cannot get new and innovative scientific breakthroughs without being creative.

Technology usually does nothing to help generate creativity. In fact, the rigid, addictive and distracting nature of the new entertainment technologies tends to discourage creative ideas. Sometimes the best way to stimulate creativity is to get away from technology and back to nature. Go for a walk, exercise or just sit in a nearby park.

Creativity, however, is a necessity for new scientific breakthroughs. So yes, we need more scientific and technological advances, but there is only one way to get them. By being creative. Science needs creativity. Creativity does not need technology.