The Problem with Creativity

When we’re kids, creativity is something we do to express ourselves, to play, for fun, because we enjoy it. One of my earliest creative memories was attending a coloring event in Iran with my cousin. I noticed that my Iranian-raised cousin gave great importance to coloring within the lines, while I, mostly raised in the UK at that point, was simply enjoying the act of expressive coloring regardless of how neat or correct the outcome was.

Many years later, I am again searching within myself for that original want of creativity for the sake of creativity, for the sake of play, for enjoyment, exploration, and experimentation. I don’t think it should be about creating something perfect. I find the overemphasis on critiquing and perfecting the outcome to negatively impact many people's connection to their own creativity and their own sense of playfulness.

Creativity is not just for those who have finely tuned skills to color perfectly within the lines or who desire to be titled an artist. Creativity is a part of all of us; it’s essential to being human, to being alive. Overemphasizing the creation of great work hinders our ability to create beautiful work. My goal now, more than anything, is to insert play back into my creativity. I want to bring enjoyment and experimentation back into my process. Creativity ought to be more about the act than the outcome. Ultimately, I think that’s where the most beautiful work comes from—that’s where the pure essence of creativity resides. As one of my favorite musicians, Mike Posner, says in a song, “I think about the chorus, the melody's important... but nothing sounds sweeter than the truth.”

Wishing you more creative playfulness.

Best,

Naser