The Courage To Be Creative

When I experience a poetry slam, dance performance, live music event or art gallery, I often walk away wondering why we haven’t yet channeled the full power of our creative energy in a way that radically transforms our society.  I think it’s because we’re justifiably scared.

Some of our fear has to do with our own capabilities.  Many of us believe that being creative requires having a specific talent.  We forget that everyday we’re creative with things like how to provide low-cost, yet educational summer activities for our kids, or how to raise the extra money needed to pay for a new transmission when savings don’t exist.  Sad to say, but if we don’t write poetry or dance or draw extremely well, we conclude that we’re not creative.    And it doesn’t take long for this ill-conceived conclusion to become a basic operating assumption; to seriously question it is guaranteed to be a time-consuming and frustrating process, possibly even an emotionally painful one.  That’s scary.

On a societal level, the institutions and systems that are firmly in place – governmental financial, educational, and legal – are just that:  firmly in place!  They’re deeply entrenched, inflexible, massive, and so intimidating that they stifle creativity.  The governmental and corporate institutions that dominate our society also oppress many, including communities of color, poor communities, men and women who have been incarcerated, and gender non-conforming folks.  But the continued existence of these oppressive institutions is threatened by our creative potential.  Think about it:  the expression of some creative thinking, such as how we might live more connected to our planet and to each other, may even constitute a terrorist threat given the verbiage of such laws as the Patriot Act and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 

So, we do have reasons to fear developing our own creative potential.  But if, on a personal level, this is your desire, consider overcoming your fear by making a list of what you think might be gained by developing your creative potential.  This thoughtful process may inspire you to plunge deeper, no longer hindered by fear.  As you gain greater familiarity and confidence with your creative potential, you will also likely gain the courage to live creatively.  And it’s our collective, courageous, creative living that will shake the very foundation of our oppressive society.