Everyone is Creative

By Kelle Walsh, Imagine Magazine (Fall, 2004).

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long before I realized a gushing well of creativity within me once again," she says. "This time, my creativity excited me and motivated me to explore, experiment and express to no end. It became a solid part of who I was; so I embraced it fully and continue to let it nourish me ... through my work and my never-ending projects."

"What allows certain individuals to make memorable contributions to the culture is a personal resolution to shape their lives to suit their own goals instead of letting external rules force their destiny," Csikszentmihalyi says. "Indeed, it could be said that the most obvious achievement of [creative] people is that they created their own lives."

The skill set

Shaping your life just as you want it may be the ultimate creative achievement. Who hasn't dreamed of writing a novel, opening his or her own business or inventing something unique and useful? Most of us long to make our mark in the world somehow, even if it is only felt by a few. But often we dismiss a creative idea as being beyond our reach.

Twyla Tharp, the award-winning and highly creative choreographer, demystifies the notion of a "creative soul" in The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life. "The routine is as much a part of the creative process as the lightening bolt of inspiration, maybe more," she writes.

Highly functioning creative people, Tharp says, are able to create because they adhere to routines that nurture and inspire their original ideas. She cites the examples of the writer who arises before dawn to write while the world sleeps; the dancer who follows a strict diet and exercise regimen to keep her body in tip-top form; the business executive who does daily yoga before he starts his day; the painter who blasts techno music to block out internal "noise" while she paints.

"In order to be creative you have to know how to prepare to be creative," Tharp says.

Begin the process of tuning into your creative voice with these tips gleaned from the lives of creative people:

Location. When it comes to creativity, the notion of an artist haven is not far off. A space where you can commune openly with your muse is key to opening the flow of creative expression. What this place looks like will be different for each person. Some may need an open loft, filled with color and light, with the noise of the city drifting in through the window. Others require the peace and quiet of a nature retreat.

"Make it easy on yourself," says Tharpe. "Find a working environment where the prospect of wrestling with your muse doesn't scare you, doesn't shut you down. It should make you want to be there."

Be curious. When something is of interest, follow it. "The first step toward a more creative life is the cultivation of curiosity and interest," says Csikszentmihalyi. Try something you've never done before. Go to a park or coffee house and people watch, observing their actions, movements and style. Be curious about the world and it will begin to reveal itself to you in new and inspiring ways.

Go alone. One of the most frightening moments for anyone about to embark on a creative endeavor is that moment of solitude when you have to begin. Get used to solitude now, and build your tolerance. It will serve you well when you sit down to start your creative project.

Face your fears. Tharpe explains that all creative endeavors are threatened by fear—the fear of failure, of not having an idea, or of not being able to produce are all common. Whatever your particular fears are, face them head on, she says. Write them down, and then, as if you were talking to a friend, go through them one by one. Once out of the closet, fears lose much of their power.

18 Imagine FALL 2004

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About the Author
Kelle Walsh is a journalist based in Santa Cruz, California. Creativity Portal was granted permission by the publisher of Imagine Magazine to reprint this article.