The creative imperative

You have probably met people in your life who claim they are not creative. They swear they have no imagination, they don’t consider themselves creative in any way and they don’t have any creative hobbies. But is that ever actually the case? My theory is that some people just prioritize creativity and some don’t. I’m not sure if non-creative people actually exist.

The concept of innate creativity suggests that every person has an inherent level of creativity; they are born with the potential to be creative, just as they’re born with the potential to learn to speak and express themselves. Whatever form that creativity may take, it’s a seed that is already planted and just needs to be nurtured. The course of a person’s life and influences are usually what determines whether that creativity will be nurtured or stifled.

Levels and expressions of creativity vary among different people, but it’s a stretch to say that non-creative people exist; it’s more accurate to say that some people may not cultivate or recognize their creative abilities, and in most cases, may not prioritize engaging in it. I have recently come to realize how vital it is, in my opinion, to be intentional about engaging in some form of creative expression. Here’s why.

In my case, my most “direct” form of creative expression is writing. As I go about my life and collect experiences, some inevitably more impactful than others, I see how important it is to be intentional about processing these experiences in some way. That means that for me, unless I turn an experience into some kind of writing (poetry, an essay, journaling, anything), it will remain bottled up inside me. I think expressing ourselves creatively is a vital human need, one whose importance we rarely recognize. What are we to do with all this living and feeling, if we don’t channel it into something? It seems very overwhelming. Do you just keep going about your life without taking some time to slow down and let your life experience be channeled into some form of creative expression? Not only is it a healing type of process, but it also helps you understand yourself so much better, tangibly so. It’s an introspective process, a tool for personal growth, self-awareness, and developing/understanding your identity.

It is also a tool for emotional catharsis, which is the main point that makes me think that maybe disregarding creativity can be detrimental. Having a creative outlet, whether it’s art, writing, music, or anything else, offers a medium that allows you to process and release emotions. It’s a cure for the rush of everyday life. We typically don’t take much time to process life, or any time at all — and I’m just realising more and more how if we are not intentional about doing that, it’s not going to happen by itself (hence my love for journaling).

If you have a creative passion, then you know that it can be quite addictive; once you start and you’re in the zone, you might go through a week or a month where you only want to be doing that. You’re inspired, you’re in the right mindset, and it simply feels right. Usually, it gets you in a flow state. That’s a sense of purpose and fulfilment that you gain through the creative act; and I feel like anything that hits the mark of deep fulfilment is something we should always strive to make time for. In a nutshell, making time for creative expression -even if you feel like you’re not a creative person- is good for your wellbeing, self-discovery and personal fulfilment.

When life gets busy, deprioritizing creativity is a natural side-effect. So, I think the key word here is intention. It’s just about deciding to be more intentional about giving yourself time to dive into creative expression, and seeing what happens. It’s easy for that to start to feel like a waste of time, as you grow up, as other priorities throw themselves at you demanding attention, but remember that creative expression will never be a waste of time. It doesn’t have to be tied to your job or any other area of your life; it’s simply tied to you being you.

If you find yourself stuck in the guilty-unless-productive cycle, make sure you recognize that expecting to spend every moment being productive is not normal, so you can feel less guilty getting out of it. Things we consider “unproductive” can be the most fulfilling parts of our lives. Work on a future novel, make up a recipe, take some time to paint even if you’ve never really painted before. A lot of things that you might intuitively consider a waste of time are quite the opposite; they’re enriching experiences, necessary to process life and create beautiful spaces between everything you have to do.