This Ken Robinson video on TED talks about how education kills creativity. I believe children are born creative, but that creative spirit often dies a slow death from a thousand small cuts of criticism, or suffocates in an airless childhood where no time is allowed to simply be expressive.
Much of my education (and I had a lot of it) was about discipline and rigor – two things that have a high amount of value in the world, which is why parents want these things for their kids. They are keys to being successful in our world. But, just as Sir Robinson says, in our current age of wonder and the future that is coming, kids will need more than just discipline. More than just knowledge. They will need critical thinking skills and creative abilities to craft the solutions to problems that we can only imagine today.
I’m reading If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland, and it’s wonderful how she describes creativity as love and generosity – a giving act of the spirit that takes in the world, interprets it, and is driven to share it back out to the rest of humanity. She talks about how this creative expression is a fundamental part of who we are, and who we’re supposed to be in the world.
Near the end of my Ph.D. research, when I was at the heights of the mania that a single-purpose-driven project can bring, I distinctly remember proclaiming, “But I am MORE than this! I am a poet!” The dazed laboratory technician caught in my moment surely thought I was insane. Even I thought I was crazy, finally succumbing to the overload and stress that a dissertation inflicts on you. Because heaven knew I hadn’t written any poetry since I was a child, and then it was undoubtedly bad. But I was expressing a truth in the only way my creativity-starved mind could at the time. A self-declaration: I am MORE than this one limited aspect of my being!*
Embrace the MORE within you. Let it grow and breathe in your children, the small ones who haven’t been on the earth long enough to forget that they are BOUNDLESS. Allow yourself to create freely, and work and strive and achieve in the pursuit of that creative expression. It is not folly or imprudence or egotism, although creative people are not immune to foolishness or self-importance. Ueland also admonishes us to remember that creating Art is not simple or easy, not without hard work and striving and discipline. Van Gogh did not declare himself an Artiste, holding himself separate and above the world. This is pretentiousness. Instead, he so loved the world that he breathed it in, created his vision, and then painstakingly rendered it and sent it forth again into the world.
This is how creativity lives.
How do you nourish your creative spirit?
*Note: I strongly believe that creativity can be found in all pursuits, not just the arts. Even in Ph.D. research, although it may not have appeared so, to me, at the time.
I think that's what people forget – that creativity is not always easy but requires a lot of hard work!
Susan, this is a lovely post! I think that because creative expression often seems like play, people just don't make time for it. And it's a lot easier to go for the "ready made" (e.g. watching TV, playing a video game) than to construct something of your own.
I could not agree more, Sue. We are all creative beings, but life often sucks it right out of us.
For adults looking to reconnect with the creativity that lies within, I highly recommend The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. The book leads you on a 12-week rediscovery of your creative self.
Susan, I'm doing a teacher in-service next week on writing. Can I print this and share it with my class?
I nourish my creativity with Scotch.
Maybe I'm just emotional, but that truly moved me! I love this post. And I agree with you whole-heartedly. That's why I try to nurture my own children's creativity, and why I appreciate my mother's encouragement of my artistic expression through writing and other ways. It makes a difference. And I'm not a whole person if I can't create.
wow, this is a great post, and I really needed it today! I like the ending analogy to creation–breathing life. I think about that sometimes when I'm writing and characters take off. That must've been how it felt~ Thanks, Susan! Happy V'day~
(No, Lisa, you aren't just emotional, this moved me too)
I agree with you, I think creativity can killed, but it can also be recharged and strengthened like a muscle. You know what really impresses me, with regards to teachers/kids (or students of any age) is when the teachers strive to teach creatively even in non-artistic classes like math and inspire creativity in the students and can appreciate when the students get creative too, even it's not 100% inline with the teaching.
Sorry, I digress, I'm very passionate about teaching. (and frustrated that it sometimes seems the hardest of all with my own kids!!! why is that? – sorry digressing again)
I really agree with you on everyone having creativity when they're younger. I'm trying to recapture mine. 🙂 I've found it really helps to actually spend time with children– my own, and other people's. Reading and even watching movies helps me expand my creativity too. It helps to see how other people have exercised their own creativity.
This post made me smile. I was fortunate to have a less conventional education experience as a child. The older half of my siblings and I all have creative persuits (acting, painting, writing, music) whereas the younger two who were in the more conventional education system play video games with their spare time. It sadens me a little. I hate to see people not realize their potential and talk about "creativity" as if it were some blessing from the gods instead of a simple aknkowledgement of themselves. Anyone can be creative. My question is how do they stand not creating?
@Laura Fortunately for me, the hard work part comes naturally – but I agree that our society is trained to think that it is easy. Maybe this is because we are saturated in high quality creative arts wherever we go – TV, movies, books, music. It's free over the airwaves, so it must be easy to do! But it's not, as anyone who's actually tried to create quickly finds out.
@Andrea My kids are "playing" when they create a laser light show in the basement. They are also creating something out of nothing, exercising their bodies and minds in a way that I couldn't replicate for them. And they prefer that over the passive reception of entertainment on almost any day. But I know what you mean – we wear ourselves out with regular life, and creative acts take energy! It's hard work. 🙂
@Lynn Being an actress, I know you speak from experience! Thanks for stopping by and for the recommendation! It's going on my TBR list. 🙂
@Shannon Of course! And I'm flattered. 🙂
@Michael LOL!
@Lisa I get pretty mushy too, which is why some of my posts end up like this! LOL And I completely understand your idea of not being "whole" without creation. It speaks to our deep need for it.
@LTM I'm so happy it helped in some small way. Sometimes we talk so much about writing, and forget to talk about what it means to be a writer. 🙂
@Margo The very best teachers keep their own creativity alive and nurture it in their students. And no, this is not easy to do. Far from it. As for teaching our own kids, I know the frustration! I struggle with that, too, even with the little teaching I do at home with them.
@Shallee You make a great point about nurturing creativity by spending time with kids. They are so present in the world, they notice the smallest things, and don't have the world's worries pressing on them, so they have a naturally expressive spirit. If we stop and truly listen to what kids say and watch how they interact with the world, it can really open our eyes. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
@Taryn I think it is a blessing, but one that each of us has! When it's buried so deep, it's hard to know what you are missing. But they are still missing it.
I am finishing a masters in microbiology and writing has been a life-saver. Sometimes the science community is a bit suffocating. I think sometimes we smother creativity in children because we think it can only be expressed in one way. But children can be creative through so many different outlets, and as adults we should be looking for the ways they naturally are expressing themselves and encourage those creative outlets.
@Sierra Good luck with your research! I honestly think I would have been a better scientist, if I had harnessed some of my creativity in that direction. I agree completely that we should encourage children to be creative in WHATEVER endeavors they are interested in, because creativity is what lifts a task from the usual to the extraordinary. 🙂
Oh Susan this post is so true. Believe it or not, no one outside of my family thought I was creative, at least not enough to write a book. I'm a pretty serious and focused person. However, deep inside there is a creative person that has been repressed for many years.
Very true! My 3-yr-old is the most creative person I know. I feel like she makes me more creative.
@LM I'm so happy for you, that you reached inside to release that creative person within. 🙂
@Kelly Children are awesome for reconnecting us – to the world, to ourselves. 🙂
Awesome post. Awesome.
Fabulous post! I completely agree that every child is born creative, but that it sometimes gets lost along the way.
I think it's an easy assumption to make that creativity is genetic because creativity is encouraged in artists' homes. When, really, many parents tell their kids to 'get your head out of the clouds' as they get older, and creativity stops. If those children were encouraged to create, they would be just as innovative as an artist's child. Possibly more.
I try to encourage creativity any way I can, whether it's in drawings, stories, science experiments, problem solving, mapping a route from point A to B, you name it. Creativity is applicable in every single thing in life. 🙂
I remind myself that putting yourself out here is always worthwhile and that you can't fail if you never stop trying. THis takes the fear out of being creative for me:) Lovely post and happy v day!
@Bryan *blushes* Thank you.
@Tabitha You are absolutely right – children absorb what is valued in their home. And that creativity is found in every pursuit. I am more afraid that I will keep my children from being creative, than I am from them getting their heads stuck in the clouds! 🙂
@Lindsay Yes – I think fear is definitely the enemy of creativity. Happy V-day! 🙂
Nice post. I allow myself to experiment and play.
hi miss susan! is creativity and imagination the same thing? im thinking you could get some of tha creative stuff going if you could just hang out with a bunch of kids for a while. my brother says i get him going for writing poems when hse feeling some lost cause of him seeing and getting caught up in all that creative stuff im having fun doing. happy valentines day! …hugs from lenny
I'm so sad for that parent. That's exactly the sort of attitude that made me quit half the things I used to be into as a kid (among them: writing!). I totally agree with you, that everyone is creative. Some just practice it more than others.
I agree too! And I think the problem is that many people don't realize how many ways there are to be creative, just like there are multiple forms of intelligence. We do our children, and ourselves, such a disservice by defining these things in a linear fashion.
@Catherine Yay for you!! 🙂
@Lenny Yes, I think creativity=imagination. And creative people are definitely an inspiration to others! You sound like you have amazing brothers! 🙂
@Adam I have to give credit to that mom, though – she was at the before school club, volunteering to nurture the creativity in her children! I just wish she would allow it for herself.
@Dawn So true! But in order to appreciate non-linear thinking, you have to think non-linearly. As a reformed linear thinker, believe me, this is difficult to do.
What a fabulous post! Heading over to watch that TED video right now. They're always so inspiring.
Susan, TH Mafi posted something this morning that reminded me of your post here on creativity and my own teacher-tangent that I went off on! If you are interested, here is the link – it's wonderful – http://stiryourtea.blogspot.com/2011/02/just-little-bit-of-kindness.html
Mostly, I keep pushing back the notion that 'this is too big for me.' I have to ignore my inner critic who wants me to feel complacent and mediocre…to spare myself discomfort of growth.
What a great post. I too believe we are born creative–just look at any young child play before they've had creativity sucked out of them by toys and activities that require little or no imagination…
Thanks for this post Susan! I caught it right in the middle of feeling guilty for not working hard on my editing in the past few days, but maybe I won't feel so guilty. Maybe I'll just reread the favourite parts of my story and remember why I love these characters so much, and then the work comes easily, and doesn't feel like work anymore.
@Sherrie I love TED. The videos, not the guy. I'm not even sure if there is a guy. 🙂
@Margo Thanks for the link – I loved Tahereh's post! And feel free to go on a teacher-tangent anytime! We love teachers/education issues here at Ink Spells.
@JB Growth is painful, isn't it? Makes me wonder why I keep signing up for more. 🙂
@Deniz Sometimes we work the love right out of it, I agree. Find your mojo again, and all will be well. 🙂