It’s been a while since I last posted. Recently, I have been pulled by nature to observe its beauty. This is part of my inspiration and part of my inquiry. Observing what is around me and what I am drawn to has started me thinking. Thinking has led to questions of self, such as, how do I define myself, where do I want to direct my focus? Inevitably this leads me back to creativity. So in my free time, I have been doing some research around what is creativity, what are its origins, what makes it so special? 

This has really started me questioning creativity, how I use the word, practice creativity and define or hold myself to a creative standard. Am I actually “creative”or am I consistently using others ideas and just working them to fit my need in a more “creative” way? I have to admit, I haven’t found my answers yet. I am not ready to share my manifesto on creativity. For now I am willing to share my process: here are some of the thoughts/ ideas/ questions about creativity that I am mulling over:

Questions I have about creativity:

1. What about the idea of creativity  am I so drawn to and why do I want to define myself by this noun?
2. How do you define that something you did was creative?
3. Why is creativity most often perceived as related to art?
4. Isn’t the scientific method is documented process of creativity?
5. If I make a new recipe based off of similar ones I’ve read is that “creating something new”, if not, then is my new recipe not creative?
6. If there is a limit to what can be created, why is the idea of being creative so exciting/ new business skill so popular?
7. How is size or scale of output related to creativity?
8. If I value creativity so much, what am I creating?

Ideas about creativity that I am grappling with:

1. Creativity is only when you truly create something that has never ever been created before.
2. Having access to or buying art/craft supplies enables creativity.
3. Creativity is a special skill or talent that comes naturally to some and others just can’t do it.
4. Groups can come up with some of the most creative ideas during activities like brainstorming.
5. Creativity is messy.
6. Creativity is best when the outcome is simple.

Ideas about creativity that resonate with me:

1. Creativity is problem solving with the intent of coming out with a new or different answer.
2. Creativity is not magic, there are no ah ha moments.
3. Ideas happen all the time. Creativity comes when you act on that idea.
4. Creativity is a process filled with the constant cycle of trying, failing, ask more questions, research, try again….
5. Everybody’s a critic, to be truly creative, you must persist.
6. Everyone is creative.

The more I read, the less answers I have. What I do know is that I am still drawn to the idea of creativity. I know that there is something special to creativity, and that we all have the potential to be creative. I know that there is intent and action in creativity.  I want to continue this exploration and I plan on sharing it here. Potentially I will answer my own questions or create more. Potentiallly this is my creation space…. More Soon.