Creativity: Daring Greatly

The time is now. We have reached the final step in our creative journey. We must face the reality that art is a communication- it breathes life only when it is shared with an audience—Artist and Other. We aren't wholeheartedly creative until our work leaves the laptop, our food is tasted, the publish post button is pushed, the photo framed.  And then we wait.  Knowing that our inner critic will say something angsty like “It is not good enough, it is not perfect, I am not perfect, what will people say and think” because we have no guarantees that this thing that we have put our guts into is going to make any difference to anyone.  We must also be reminded that unless we share it, our creation will not make any difference to us.  If we hold onto our creations too long we will stop being creative.  It takes courage to create, every step of the way. 

Dr. Brene Brown is my virtual mentor in the courage department.  After twelve years of sociological research  her results boil down to this: As humans we are wired for connection, it is why we are here.  However, we can’t connect with others without being vulnerable. Vulnerability is not a weakness it is taking an emotional risk that requires great courage—it is the birthplace of creativity, change, and belonging.  Dr. Brown begins her book Daring Greatly with this quote from Teddy Roosevelt:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly . . .  

I hope you have enjoyed the January theme of Creativity.  Please stop by again next month to explore relationships in February.  Dare Greatly.