Meaningless Creativity: Absurd but Sold Out

November 28, 2014November 30, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

Many artists blame unproductivity on the lack of inspiration. Some admit they constantly procrastinate. But none of these reasons are as serious as the notorious agent of delay in creativity which is the fear of criticism. People who suffer from this whenever they need to make decisions or take action, especially when pressured to do it on the spot, are said to have an Avoidant Personality Disorder or AvPD. It is a Cluster C personality disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Simply put, a person diagnosed with AvPD is extremely anxious. But don’t underestimate it or brush it off just yet. Over-anxiety may seem like an average feeling of an average person, but it falls under the same cluster as being obsessive-compulsive and being over-dependent. That can’t be good.

You don’t have to worry too much about the outcome of your work. Too much worrying can hurt your creativity. Big time. This is the part where I stress the importance of studying and researching about other art forms and genres. The more you know about the mechanics of your craft, and what other artists have a mutual respect for in their fellow creatives, the easier it will be for you to break free from the grips of social conformity.

Existentialists are the freest of the free, that is, among artists who create by philosophy. At least in my opinion, they are. The existentialism credo implies that a person’s actuality is enough reason, and requires no meaning, explanation, nor direction. Without logic or the need of it, creation can happen. Sounds a little bit absurd but it is possible, moreover, it is marketable. In literature, there is a genre called absurdist fiction. Literary compositions under this genre often have characters who are devoid of purpose in life. But even with the absence of values or lessons, they are well received by many readers. Regardless of how much of it is true or how much of it is made up, people are entertained by these books because they want to be able to escape from the complexities of reality. Yes, we want to be challenged mentally, but we also need a breather from having to do only those things that are reasonable. Over-thinking can be stressful, and being stressed is the last thing you want to be if you’re already worried about being unproductive. So you see, absurdity can be therapeutic, that’s why it sells.

Come to think of it, inspiration isn’t really much of a necessity if you aim to not let the day go by without creating something. As an artist, you should make it a habit to keep doing what it is that you do, just for the sake of it. In a way, you are cultivating your talent. Like a pencil, you must keep it sharpened even when you do not have to use it immediately. But unlike a pencil, creativity does not get shorter if you keep sharpening it. It grows. So don’t do it for the critics. Don’t even do it for yourself. Just do it.

“We can regard our life as a uselessly disturbing episode in the blissful repose of nothingness.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

Plan Your Life Creatively

November 27, 2014November 27, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

No one is born boring. A blank canvas, that’s what we are when we first came into this world. The first group of people we encounter are responsible for drafting out what kind of life we would be living, and slowly shape what kind of individuals will become of us.

How creative you are is not limited to the in-your-face artistic pieces that you are capable of making. It’s also not exclusive to the appreciation and collection of pieces of art which aren’t your own creations. There is no single defining thing that determines a person’s creativity, not even through the comparison of oneself with peers based on specific criteria. Especially not that. Life is what you make of it. You’ve probably heard this from people a couple of times. You’ve probably uttered the words yourself. By simply choosing to make a plan of how your life is going to happen, you can have the power to live a very colorful one.

Make bold decisions. Don’t just stand in the corner and watch everyone else settle for a black and white world. Be open to the idea that you may be that catalyst that can lead a whole generation of creativities. If you think you can do something about the lack of color in your life, do something about it and do it in a way that inspires others to do the same when they see it, or motivate them to create something good in a different way.

Some people are discontented about the way their lives are turning out. Many wish that they could turn back time. You don’t have to instantly conclude that you are facing a crisis. A creative mind would look for ways to salvage what is, rather than regret and wish for a second chance at what was. Second chances seldom come. You add going back in time to the table, and seldom becomes never. You might as well do with what’s left of your unwise decisions.

If you want a meaningful life, there’s only one way to do it. Plan. And do not just plan for the things to come, be a creative planner. Envision something beyond the possible. The idea is to set out specific goals, map out specific steps to be taken in order to reach those goals, put in a little time pressure to hopefully fight procrastination, and have a backup plan for when those steps turn out to be flawed.

Let me give you a clear example of what kind of plan you should be making. A checklist is easier to go by, and also leaves room for you to make changes along the way if you feel the need for any. Below is a list of things that I personally think are creative ways to intend for the outcome of life. Give it a playful title to make sure you always find it enjoyable to review.

MY 8 EXES:

Examine myself. What are my wants and needs?
Explore talents and skills. Hone them.
Execute what I’ve always intended to do with my gifts.
Extract people from my life who hinder my success.
Expect the unexpected. If at one area I’m not showing much progress, develop a new skill.
Extend. Find people who will most likely appreciate and help put my talents to good use.
Exit with grace. Leave them in awe when I leave the scene.

Life truly is what you make of it. It is the sum of the concurrence of your failed and successful creations alike.

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.” – Gloria Steinem

Insomnia: Friend or Foe?

November 24, 2014November 24, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

A lot of studies have been made to find out the relationship between sleep and creativity. It’s long been proven that getting enough rest and sleep refreshes our whole body, and the lack of it impairs cognition, attention, and decision-making. To be able to get the best out of your creativity, you need to have a clear head as well as a healthy body. But in the case of a sleeping disorder, where you have no control over it, is it possible to turn the odds in your favor by taking advantage of the extra waking hours?

What is a clear case of insomnia?

Many people mistake insomnia for a single incident thing. They experience one night of not being able to doze off and they think they have a disorder. Even acute cases have to at least have happened a couple of times in wide frequencies.

Sure signs of insomnia include:

difficulty in falling asleep
waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep
waking up too early in the morning
feeling tired upon waking

One has to go through repeated occurrences of these symptoms in order to say he or she is an insomniac. Although a less frequent type can develop into a more serious one, a chronic case, it can still be corrected with the help of professionals and with the right kind of therapy.

In ‘The Guardian’, a blog by Dorian Lynskey, he wrote an article about the upside of insomnia. He was taking into account a creative journey of a musician and actor who suffered sleeping problems. It had started from the actor’s too much worrying about getting enough rest. Because of it, he watched film after film to hopefully get tired but instead, ended up staying awake until it was past 3:00a.m. It was becoming habitual and because of his frustration, he decided that instead of trying to get asleep by tiring himself with things unrelated to his plans, he would take the time to create music.

Creative Insomnia

It’s existence has been disputed many times, but have been found true with subjective proof through examples like Chris Martin of Coldplay and techno artist Moby, who testify that they are able to find inspiration from sleepless nights just as well as torment.

Don’t feel so safe just yet. We’ve only covered half of the issue. Let’s get into the adverse effects of insomnia on creativity. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, a Professor of Business Psychology at UCL and NYU, says that one does not have to suffer from insomnia to in order to be a high-flyer in any field. He claims evidence suggesting that sleep deprivation has a negative impact on all sorts of performance. Read his entire post on Psychology Today to have a more profound view from an expert.

Creative Sleep

An equally interesting and slightly related topic from another source confers that there is a kind of sleep that an artist can possibly self-induce in order to awaken his or her creativity. I know, it sounds paradoxical at first. You are about to find out why. Maria Popova writes about the Art of Creative Sleep, highlighting the interesting points in ‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’ by Stephen King. She opens the article by quoting Debbie Millman’s first step among 10 Easy Steps in Overcoming Creative Block.

“Sleep is the greatest creative aphrodisiac.”

You now understand that sleep here is taken as more than one kind; first, sleep as in resting to recharge the brain, and then sleep as in a state of mind where dreams are lucid. Stephen King focuses on the latter. He says that it can be achieved by blocking out all the things that can prevent you from connecting with your dreamer self. He reassures that in the long run you will be able to filter out the distractions but if you are only at the beginning of the craft, it’s best to try to deal with these distractions. The ideal setting has to provide you the kind of space and stillness that sleeping does.

The Judgement

Insomnia is neither friend nor foe. I think what matters is our attitude towards sleep. We shouldn’t treat sleep as a mere process of reinvigoration. If we are too worried about how much of it we get, we tend to have a negative attitude towards working. Insomnia does not directly affect creativity because some people are still able to produce quality art pieces in spite of being deprived of sleep. The precise downside of sleep deprivation is that it affects our health, subsequently incapacitating us of many things including doing something creative. It’s best to let sleep happen naturally and practice healthy living while awake, so that our body tires out naturally. Sleep shouldn’t be forced, just like creativity.

“Sleep comes more easily than it returns.” – Victor Hugo

Creativity and Elementary School Subjects

November 23, 2014November 23, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

We know what creativity means. We have used it in different contexts. There is almost nothing new to say of it, because it has been explained many times and in many ways. It’s a popular notion that all things should be kept in moderation, and that even too much of a good thing is bad. For creativity, I don’t think it applies. Which is why I think we can still look for new ways to explain it. It is simply impossible to get enough of creativity. There is no such thing as too much of it.

I’m rather fond of using analogies when explaining things. In fact, I’m a fan of the technique. Comparing a thing using less complex terms is the best method of getting the message through because you can interchange the variables to better fit the comprehension of your audience.

Here are the different ways creativity is similar to the basic subjects in school:

Creativity and Math

In Math, we learn about shapes, counting, measuring, grouping, and reordering. Creativity is pretty much about all those things too. We calculate a lot of things in our creations like, how long it takes to finish, and at what angle can we get the best results from. We may also change the arrangement of the elements of our work until it is shaped the way we conceptualized it.

Creativity and Science

Generally, Science explains the nature of things so it involves observing, theorizing, testing theories, and making conclusions. It’s the same thing with creativity. When we see a piece of art that we find interesting and realize that we can do something like it, we examine how it’s done, think of new ways of achieving it, until we discover the most effective way of doing it.

Creativity and Reading

This is not limited to literary artists. Even painters, performers, and other types of artists need to read because, well, reading is fun. Those who read know that it is more than just a hobby. Those who don’t, need more encouragement from people who do. Reading stuff that are related to your creativity outlet may boost your skills. It makes you have a better understanding of the history and mechanics of your craft. The effect of practice in both creativity and reading is directly proportional. The more you read, the better your comprehension. The more you create, the more innovative you become.

Creativity and Language

Different languages follow different syntaxes. And the thing is, the more you worry about being grammatically correct, the harder it is to convey what you really mean to say. You have more chances of being understood by using layman’s terms but, when you settle for simplicity and not try to learn the scheme of one language(or many languages for that matter), you will pose as someone who is a little less articulate. Relating this to creativity, it’s okay to be guided by the fundamental ways of making things, but if you are too cautious about straying from the nitty-gritties of the art, you might end up producing a piece that easily blends with the rest.

Creativity and P.E.

Gym classes are encouraged in schools because experts believe that the body should be as active as the mind. Often times, creativity requires field or physical exercises to help induce more imaginative thoughts or concepts.

I would have also included creativity’s likeness with the study of History, but I figured that the latter may as well fall under Reading. To become more creative, we must relate creativity to many things, things that we encounter everyday.

“Imagination is the source of every form of human achievement. And it’s the one thing that I believe we are systematically jeopardizing in the way we educate our children and ourselves.” – Ken Robinson

Where to Find Inspiration in the USA

November 22, 2014November 22, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

In one of my previous posts, I have mentioned that one way of rekindling your passion for creativity is by travelling. I thought the idea was too general. So now, I have decided to research places to give you specific examples of where you should book your next flight to if you’re eager to get inspiration through travel.

Seven continents, and a total of 196 countries in the world today, but let’s see the sights in the USA first. If I could, I would list down all the cities and states, but that would take forever and I want to makes sure to pick out the top destinations that have an inspiring prospect written all over them. (If you think I missed a place which you think is worthy of this roster, feel free to write it in the comments section.)

The White House – You don’t have to be a devotee or be into politics to be able to appreciate the Presidential residence. There is so much you can get from looking at the place and its surroundings. It will help stimulate your thoughts on democracy and its foundation. With a little reinforcement from historical facts, you might even be able to write an essay or a novel following a plot that is parallel to a significant event in history.
Las Vegas Strip – In the gambling mecca of the world, you will learn that one bet can change your fate. The same thing can happen when creating something. One risk you take can take your art to the next level. Some names and themes of the casinos can inspire either romance, mystery, or even fantasy. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always have to stay in Vegas. You can take the experience and the lessons along with you and apply them in your work.
Niagara Falls – It has more than 14 million visitors yearly. Many of these tourists are just after the beauty to behold, or only to take one dream destination off of their checklist. But as an artist, you are to think of yourself as a special tourist with a deeper reason for witnessing this water form of wonders. Writing fantasy? Why not add this element to your setting and just change its name?
Golden Gate Bridge – Bridges in general are inspired by people who value connection. It is important to note that an artist must have an intimate connection with his work, and maintains a good relationship with other artists that he or she is collaborating with. The symbolic bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County has a bright red-orange color, intended to make it more visible through thick fogs. Like the link between you and your creation, it must be very obvious.
Space Needle – Can’t start getting creative on an empty stomach? No problem. At 500 feet above ground, you can eat at the SkyCity Restaurant. Once you’ve had a taste of satisfaction inside this one-of-a-kind skyscraper, you can start getting ideas for your next sci-fi novel. Physically, you are right at the heart of Seattle, but your mind can go to as far as an imaginary galaxy.
Grand Canyon – It’s impossible not to include this on the list. The intricacy of its landscape gives its visitors a remarkable panorama that leaves you in nothing but pure astonishment. It is not the only canyon in the world but it truly deserves to be called ‘Grand’. It doesn’t matter what kind of art you are working on, the Grand Canyon will give you an outburst of ideas. One thing that it can particularly contribute to your creativity is that it will prod you to pay closer attention to details, because the most minute of them can disturb the entirety of the project.

The United States of America is one of the largest and most diverse countries in the word. You can choose more than one destination to look for inspiration. It is the land of the free and the home of the brave, two of the many key characteristics of a great artist.

“Yet America is a poem in our eyes; its ample geography dazzles the imagination, and it will not wait long for metres.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Answers to Some of the FAQs on Creativity

November 21, 2014November 21, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

I was reading a bunch of stuff online in search of something inspiring. Instead, I ended up looking into several ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ pages on websites. This gave me a thought. Why not explore some of the most asked questions about creativity, and hopefully provide answers? I asked a number of people to tell me what they would like to know about creativity. These were a mix of people from my phonebook, email contacts, some Facebook friends, and random Twitter followers. I stumbled over many interesting ones, but I especially chose the few which, when answered, will be able to inspire. See if you have asked yourself any of these.

“Is there such a thing as being too young to showcase one’s creativity?”

No, there isn’t. In fact, there isn’t such a thing as too old either. When you have painted, written, choreographed, or invented something new, the first thing people would want to know is why and how you did it. They don’t always ask about your age. Well, maybe if you’ve become incredibly famous overnight, they would want to know more about your background eventually. But how old (or young) you are is not much of a concern in the world of creativity. If anything, being either too young or too old and still capable of doing something amazing is a plus factor.

“Can I label a style or manner of creating as my own even when it’s inspired by another artist?”

Of course. And you should. My co-author on this blog wrote about matters of originality in one of the older posts titled ‘It’s A Steal! (Or, Creativity Through Copying)‘, just so you’d get a more thorough explanation. Personally, I think we have a right to call a reproduction of another artist’s work as our own for the mere fact that our copy is a product of our efforts. I understand that the question is about the style or the manner of creating. If that is the case, it is a revision rather than a replication. So yes, you may call it your own.

“What is the importance of consistency in the quality of your work?”

First of all, an artist should never risk the quality of his or her work for whatever reason. It’s important to be consistent in quality, but in instances where there is a deadline to be met, you must free yourself from any distraction and manage your time well. Consistently in quality is a must, but not to be confused with consistency of the work entirely. Creativity, after all, is all about innovation and trying new things. If you stick to what you know or stick with how you are used to doing things, you will never know how much further your creativity can go. It’s best to widen the range of your skills.

“When can you say that you have reached the peak of your career in creativity?”

When I read this question, I ended up asking another question. Does a career in creativity reach a peak at all? Not everyone with a career is using his or her creativity, and not everyone who is creative is making a career out of it. If you have made your creativity a career, a peak would mean an end, but only if you stop trying to outdo the best that you’ve done. Don’t look at creativity as a career. Instead, look at it as a lifelong commitment. It reaches a peak, but it will only be one point among the many highs and lows of such commitment.

“How can I make a profit out of my creativity?”

Actually, this should be the last thing you should think about. This question tends to have a negative effect on your creativity because instead of focusing on the true value of your work, it lets your mind wander off to a danger zone where monetary profit may eclipse your initial motive to create. I suggest that you think of ways on how you can maximize your skills by always looking for inspiration, so that you keep creating interesting things. When the mass production is ongoing, that is the best time to think of how you can sell your work.

Lady Gaga on Never Letting Anyone Bully Your Creativity Away

November 20, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

The world as we know it is tough. Beautiful, but tough. In the world of creativity, there will be more of those who will tell you that your work does not deserve recognition than those who will look for something to appreciate about it. Be open to constructive criticism. Thank the people who build you up and cheer for you. Let their compliments enthuse you until your creative self reaches a state of ecstasy. Take them while you can, because you will be needing them to prepare you for when the destructive views come flooding in.

Sometimes, we are the only ones who understand the art that we do. Fear that there isn’t one soul out there who can relate to us is not worth quitting our creative liberty for. We live in a planet filled with endless wonders, undiscovered wonders. Some wonders live in our minds. It’s a whole different universe inside of us, and we have the power to decide what creatures dwell within. It shouldn’t matter if no one understands us, because to our creations, we are gods.

Many of those who bring you down, bring you down because of their incapability of making what you are capable of. That’s all you need to know, or at least it’s what you should keep telling yourself until you learn to wear a smile in front of the cynics. A lot of great artists, whether in the performing arts, visual arts, or literary arts, have been thrown the harshest of comments. But it is usually right after taking in these hurtful comments will a true artist unleash the creative monster within.

Lady Gaga and Bullying:

In her smash hit ‘Born This Way’, the pop star tells off those who judge and bully other people for being different, in a subdued manner. The song is an anthem of the criticized. She was bullied when she was younger. Up until today, she still is, what with all the art critics here and there, hitting as low as questioning her sanity. You can take the message of the song as it is, that everyone is equally beautiful. But for the artist in you, you can chant the words to strengthen your creative skills. The more convinced you are that there is beauty in everything and everyone, the more capable you will be of reproducing that beauty.

Lady Gaga and Creativity:

She is practically an epitome of the freedom of self-expression. Her art is consistently inconsistent. No one will ever truly understand her; why she dresses up the way she does, behaves the way she behaves, or her unconventional makeup. But I’m sure many of you will agree that when she drops a record, her prime expertise in composing songs surpasses the attention given to her outlandish numbers. Coming right down to the bottom of things, she simply trusts in her creativity alone to fend off the pessimism.

It is impossible to please everybody. But instead of letting this unfortunate truth put a limit to how creative you can get, use it as a justification for your failed attempts. We’re only human. We’re entitled to that. With regards to our creativity in relation to what others say of it; we must take the good in order to remember the aspect in which we succeeded, as well as the bad, for the extra push towards doing better, closing in on being the best.

“Ignore all hatred and criticism. Live for what you create, and die protecting it.” – Lady Gaga

Creativity Resources To Be Thankful For

November 20, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

It is almost Thanksgiving Day. Although it is important to be reminded about the history of when and why it is celebrated, a better thing to do is to make a list of the things we are grateful for in the present that have either given us inspiration, or have helped make our creative dreams into realities. These may be objects you have received, opportunities opened for you, obstacles you have conquered, milestones you have reached, or things other people have done for you.

Here is a list of things you may have missed:

Before anything else, you must be thankful that you are still alive and well. A lot of us forget that this is enough reason to say thanks. It does not even matter whatever religion you follow. Sometimes, just because times are tough or pockets are empty, we conclude that there is nothing to be thankful for. This is it.

If you have no preference in any religious belief and don’t know whom to express gratitude towards, they are the people to address it to. Your family might not be perfect, but hey, no family is. The fact that you will always be one of them in blood is enough to be thankful for.

Yes, it is free, which is why you should be thankful. Imagine if you didn’t have a single penny and you had to pay in exchange for breathable air. The best things the world has to offer are free. Sadly, we forget to be thankful for them.

Many people practice saying grace before meals. Most of them say grace as a practice alone. There are many people out there who are dying of hunger. Those of us who get to eat at least one meal a day should not complain because others have nothing on their plate at all. Some people don’t even have plates.

You’ll never miss it until it’s gone. Not just figuratively. Things will be very difficult to swallow, literally. You think water is not that important? You have better chances of surviving by relying on water alone than food.

For the luckier few, it’s not just a roof. They have a whole house. Nothing promises safety than a roof and walls. Even those who are homeless are thankful for the roof that is not even their own, and for the walls that could easily be blown by strong winds.

Sure, not everyone gets to sleep soundly. But every bit of sleep we get is refreshing. Every time we feel a little worn out, one where eating and drinking does not help, sleep is the only immediate remedy. Even an hour is a good enough recharge to get through another twenty-four. Others don’t get a good nights’ sleep, but still highly appreciative of short naps.

You may have thanked your pals many times for the things they have given or done for you, but have you thanked the universe for making your paths cross? Be thankful for their very existence, because true friends these days are very hard to find.

I have read many things about people who are broken inside finding retreat in listening to songs that they can relate to. Whether the message is about admitting one’s weakness, mourning, or embracing the truth and discovering one’s inner strength, our favorite songs always seem to help us cope.

Some stories are real. Some are make-believe. But regardless of how much truth is in a tale, it is hard not show appreciation for a good narrative. We learn much of the lessons we now know by heart from every story told by our elders. True or otherwise, we always get a piece of wisdom from them. A great story always holds a strong value. Story-telling is the earliest form of education.

Let us also consider being thankful for more new age things. Life is easier because they were created.

Mobile or landline, it does not really matter. The invention of these mediums of communication is indeed one of the greatest achievement of mankind. Before, no man is an island. But now, men can be islands, even very distant ones, because bridges and vessels have been created to keep them connected.

I think everyone dreams of travelling somewhere new, somewhere far. Deep inside, we all have feelings of wanderlust. Some of us are where we are as a result of circumstances we cannot escape from, like being born in that place. We all have that one place which we would rather be. Thanks to transportation, we can get there. If that Eden of ours is nearby, our very own feet are our means of transport.

One time, I thought to myself, “I can be my own teacher, if I only had the resources to use…” But now I do. Possibly, all the information that we might need in order to self-study is available online. As a matter of fact, if you can pay for those that charge you for a full access, there are no bounds to how much info you can get. Easy access to data, now who wouldn’t be grateful for that?

The idiot box, a slang term for television, is christened as such because it causes our minds to go into an idle state. We get so engrossed with what we are watching that we barely do some active thinking, thus, being as idiots. Why do I think we should be thankful for it? We all need a break from being busy with everything else. Sometimes it pays to just let our brains be passive.

I’m about to wrap up and close this list with one of the things that we must be truly thankful for. I bet you would all agree that it is indeed golden.

Isn’t it ironic how time is always around but there is no way to turn it around? There is so much of it, and at the same time so little. We often overlook its significance and all we ever do is either complain that time is moving too slow or that it is unfairly fast. What we should be doing instead is be glad for every second we have because every moment counts. For every bit of it, there is a promise of hope.

Happy Thanksgiving Day everybody!

Constant Writing as a Cure for Less Creative Days

November 20, 2014 Sasa 1 Comment

When you feel bad, write about it to find release. When you’re happy, write about it to keep yourself grounded. Whatever you feel at the moment, it’s best to put it in paper. And what are your phones for? Communication. It’s not just so you can stay connected with people. It’s best to never lose communication with yourself. So type it in. Write about every experience to monitor what and how you are doing in reality.

A creative idea, just like luck, it works like lightning. It doesn’t hit the same place twice. If you are lucky enough to have it cross your mind at least once, you must make sure you never forget it. To do this, you must make it a habit to write down all of your thoughts, all the time. Write, even when your thoughts don’t mean anything. It’s a good practice, and you will never have to miss an important event or waste a bright idea.

I have a friend who writes for the local paper. One time, she invited me to have coffee with her. So we met one rainy afternoon. She had her laptop open when I arrived. I asked her what our ‘urgent’ meeting was about. She told me that she’s planning to quit her job because she she’s losing inspiration. During times when she can’t write about anything interesting, she said her boss adds pressure on her by telling her they would cut her weekly bonuses. She asked me what my opinion was about working in a call center. She’s thinking about doing customer service. What do I think about it? I’ve known her my whole life, she’s born to write. Here’s what I really think – she just needs to relax and accept the fact that there are days when one feels less creative. She’s so used to writing really good essays and thinks it’s a waste of time to write about nonsense, which I think is wrong. Besides, customer service? It’s a very decent job, but some people aren’t made for it. Sure, she still gets to write notes after having received calls, but none of those notes are a product of her exceedingly creative mind. It’s a big waste of time and talent. The advice I gave her is that she should continue writing, settle for mediocre to even pointless writing. She closed a tab on her browser which I got a peek at earlier. It was an online application form for an outsourcing company. She then took a pen from her shoulder bag, grabbed a table napkin, and scribbled down ‘Is this pointless enough for you?’ We both burst into laughter.

Many have achieved greatness in one give-it-your-all move. An even luckier few attained it only by accident. But it doesn’t mean that is the only way to go. Just because many believe that nothing or no one is perfect, doesn’t mean it’s okay to lose faith in what practicing can do. Sometimes aiming for the best has no requisite for extreme efforts, but instead, require simple deeds executed with the best attitude. Our creativity is as constant as change. There is little that can be done about it, but there is a lot that can be done to better the chances.

Oh and by the way, that friend of mine is now senior editor of a prevalent publication in the country, who owes me another slice of blueberry cheesecake at the coffee shop.

“Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King

People in Your Life Who Influence Your Creativity

November 19, 2014November 21, 2014 Sasa Leave a comment

No man is an island. This does not only apply to the need for interaction among people for socializing purposes. Being around others affects how we behave, how we make decisions, and even the ideas that our minds bring forth. Every single person is a domino piece. We are able to touch a person the same way we have been touched by another. It doesn’t matter what your outlet for creativity is, when you hang out with certain people, it is possible to point out which one of them has had something to do with your creations.

There is no such thing as bad inspiration in the aspect of creativity. Whether a person is a good influence or otherwise, as long as the time you spend together causes you to become more creative, that person is a good enough inspiration.

Here are some of the people in your life who influence your creativity, and the ways that they affect your attitude towards creating.

Your mother – She is your first art teacher. She taught you about the many beautiful things in this world, and that there are countless ways of how you can utilize these things, especially those that are free. She is the first to appreciate your talents and will always be your number one fan. When you do your work and have her in mind, you tend to become a little cautious whether what you do or part of it would go against the values she has taught you and hurt her feelings. She makes you create things that are rather conservative.

Your father – He is your hero. He has shown you that there is nothing to be afraid of. It doesn’t even matter to him whether the work you’ve done is polished to perfection or not. As long as you keep creating stuff, he will be proud of you. Having close ties with your dad makes you fearless. You will see this in your work when you try new things and not mind about what others will think about it. You will have no fear for criticism because your dad is your number one critic. He may tell you at times that your work is sloppy, but he will reassure you that the next one will be better.

Your sister – She is your confidante. She knows your deepest darkest secrets. She can be brutally honest about her thoughts on your work, but that’s only because she does not want you to be put to shame when others see it. Unlike mom or dad, who may sugar-coat their opinion, she will tell you if your piece sucks and tell you to change it right away. Sure, she can be bossy, but that’s only because she genuinely wants you to shine. You trust your sister so even when you’ve already decided you’re going one way with a project, you will be open about the idea and make alterations or go an entirely different direction.

Your brother – He is your partner in crime. He may not know anything about what you are doing, but you have his full support. He is even willing to lend a hand if you ask him to. The thing about your brothers is, he can make fun of your work but deep down he practically worships you and may even be thinking about letting you do his project in exchange for something you’ve always wanted. He is the master of trade. His main contribution to your creativity is that nudge that answers the question, “what’s in it for me?”

Your bestfriend – He or she is your healthy competition. You and your pal hang out with each other for a reason. You like the same things. You want to create the same things. Not all bestfriends may be totally honest with their judgment on each other’s work for fear of not getting the same compliment(or insult). You secretly want to outdo your bestfriend, which is why you end up going out of your way to come up with the most creative concept. But that’s not at all a bad thing. When either of you get recognition for a job well done, you’ll both be thankful to have had a friendly rivalry. And you will celebrate with each other anyway.

Your lover – A person who is in love can be one of the most creative individuals. If your partner truly is your better half, then with him or her, you are whole. There are no constraints to what you can do nor limits to how long you can keep going. Your lover will make you a better artist because you are creating things with a satisfied heart. Your work will often mirror your current dating status because it has romantic essences all over it.

Your grandparents – They are your windows to the past. You have an appreciation for creative pieces in history because they show you how life in the old times are just as beautiful as our world today. Your grandparents will tell you about how magnificent your work is, but will never fail to remind you that simplicity is always best. Because of this, your work will bear a marque of classic elements. You will be able to create a piece that can withstand the test time.

Art is a product of the mind and the heart. The people we think about and have feelings for have so much impact on our creativity. The more we are aware of what kind of inspiration they can give us and acknowledge it, the more driven we become.

“If you believe that your thoughts originate inside your brain, do you also believe that television shows are made inside your television set?” – Warren Ellis