You know, it’s funny…I really had to struggle to come up with an idea for a new mini rant. I sat and thought about it for at least a few minutes. I thought, “What am I going to write about this time? This week has been pretty even keel, and so not much inspiration for me.” A few minutes later, it hit me; why not focus on the process of creativity itself as a whole? Brilliant! To avoid the risk of making this into a verbal outline, I’ll get right down to it.
We all have some kind of creative spark within us, whether it’s performing on a stage, or it involves working on a hobby we love on the weekends. It might involve others, or it might be something we do in our spare time alone. Regardless, it’s just as important for each of us to explore and discover new ideas, new ways of thinking, and to embrace that creativity within us.
Some of us hold back, being fearful of letting go to put our heart and soul into that which we enjoy doing. Perhaps it’s shame because of what someone may have said in the past. It might be a musician who has stopped creating music because someone made a tasteless joke about what they did. It might be the painter who gave up because she felt that she just “couldn’t get it right.” Then there’s the radio producer who walked away from the business because he felt that he couldn’t give the client what they wanted. In any case, these are people who stopped doing what they loved because of outside influence.
Yes, it’s nice when someone compliments something that we have done. Yes, it hurts when someone criticizes work that we have put our heart and soul into. Neither is necessary to be creative. Being creative doesn’t necessarily mean that something is marketable. If that is your primary focus, be prepared to be disappointed. Your vision might not be shared by everyone, and those who are unable to do so might feel inclined to make remarks that are less than appropriate. Step around them, and continue to do what you know in your heart to be true, but be honest in why you are doing it.
If you like making art from old car parts, by all means do it! If you like to make music with instruments that you created yourself, go for it! If you like to paint with food coloring and make artistic food, enjoy it! Want to make radio-controlled cars like the characters from Mario Kart? Put that 3-D printer to use! Follow that creative spirit, wherever it may take you! Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new ideas if you feel that you’re ready to move forward.
No idea is too small or too silly. If it appears silly to someone, it’s because they don’t understand what you’re trying to do. Remember, they are not you! There are so many ways to express ourselves, and most of them don’t require the latest and greatest in technology. Honestly, I believe that is part of the problem today; technology simply does too much FOR us, not giving us that space to think, analyze, conceptualize, and create. Sure, it’s great that sound editing program has all these special effects, but I can create them myself too; that’s part of the fun for me! When I started using pre-made work parts in radio production projects, the overall creativity began to suffer. My heart wasn’t in it. Do what YOU love, and do it because you love it! Life is too short to be doing everything to please others.