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man i swear sometimes, that sh** just gets so deep. deep. deep.
Recently, I read an article in The Egotist. In it, a challenge was issued: Share your creative philosophy in 20 words or less.
There were all kinds of responses—some poetic, some calculated, some witty, and some (very) abstract.
It made me wonder about my own creative philosophy, so I decided to accept the challenge (except I know I’m wordy, so I gave myself 100 words to do it)!
Anyway… as I read through this article, I found myself wishing I could learn more about each of those person’s individual philosophies.
- How do they define creativity?
- How did their childhoods and upbringings affect their philosophies on creativity?
- How do they apply those beliefs in their daily lives?
I guess I was asking for a bit much in 20 words or less, but I was just so inspired!
The role of creativity in our daily lives is something that isn’t talked about enough, but is extremely important to The LaziMILLENNIAL Movement.
So for the sake of conversation, I’ll share my 100-word creative philosophy and explain where it came from.
More importantly, I challenge YOU to think about and create your own creative philosophy too! Share it with everyone in the comments below!
My creative philosophy
Anyone and anything that was created has the power to create. Creativity is not a gift that is selectively handed out. It is energy that we all possess but that we each manifest in a variety of ways.
Pin me to come back to this post later!

You don’t have to believe in God to read or appreciate this post, but it’s important for me to state that upfront, because that belief is the foundation of my creative philosophy.
To me, creativity = creative energy, which is the essence of Creation. Yeah, the BIG Creation.
Some super smart scientists taught us through the law of conservation of energy that energy cannot be created or destroyed. The same concept applies to creative energy. It doesn’t become or end. It just “is.”
Creativity can be recycled, repurposed, and transformed, but it can’t be created or eliminated.
Anyone and anything that was created has the power to create.
Alright y’all, I’m going deep.
When God created the world—the skies, the land, the animals—He literally used creative energy to do so. That means creative energy was transferred to all of those things, all those animals, and all of us.
And because energy, including creative energy, cannot be destroyed, we all have the ability to create within us.

Create ideas.
Create things.
Even create people!
In the most blatant sense, we can combine with another human being and literally create another human being!
The fact that we all contain creative energy (because we were all made from creative energy) brings me to the second point of my creative philosophy.
Creativity is not a gift that is selectively handed out.
I hate the use of the word “creative” as a noun.
You know, like: “I’m a creative…” “I love working with creatives…” “I tend to gravitate towards other creatives…”
I hate…despise…abhor the use of the word creative in that way. Why?

The reason I dislike the use of “creative” as a noun is this: It implies that creativity is something that has to define you in order to be within you.
In this sense, “creative” is being used as a replacement for the word “artist,” even though creativity and art are not necessarily the same.
I know that as humans, it’s our nature to label people. But I believe using creative (noun) to reference subgroups of people undermines the role creativity plays in all of our lives and in our world.
If we’re using “creative” as a noun, then we are all creatives!
We each manifest creativity in different ways.
Quick word association exercise: When you hear the word creative, what comes to mind?
Paint brushes and canvases? Scripts and movie sets? An episode of Project Runway?
Sure, all of those things scream, “Creative!!”

- Teachers who make up catchy songs to teach their students math
- Architects who design office buildings and skyscrapers
- Scientists who use data visualization to display complicated information in downright gorgeous ways

We also tend to associate creativity with careers or hobbies, but creativity isn’t confined to what pays your bills.
Creativity also includes resourcefulness and thinking outside the box.
Have you ever jazzed up a bowl of Ramen noodles? An egg, some veggies, some sausage, a heavy hand of Mrs. Dash, and a sprinkle of parsley?
You use creativity when you’re studying and figuring out how to retain information…when you’re trying to find ways to make that money for those Beyonce tickets…when you’re participating in the latest Twitter hashtags, meme sessions, and GIF wars.
I could go on and on.
The point is that there are SO many ways to expend and express creative energy. As individuals, we all choose to spend ours in different ways. That doesn’t make any one way more or less significant than another.
Want to tap into your creative energy more? Check out these suggestions for how you can learn to be more creative.
I didn’t even get to go into the myth of originality, but you can read all about that here (along with a recommendation for a book that’ll knock your creative socks off)!
I really enjoyed how you broke down creativity in a holistic way. Never thought about how using creative as a noun can be problematic but this was good food for thought. Great post!
Thank you for reading Wunms!
When I think of creativity, I think of it as having the ability to create something and make it your own or unique. One person may find and unconventional way of doing something while another may do it in a more conventional way with their own little flavor added. Both ways are creative.
I love that. So true. And I think the differences in how we approach ways of doing something are what make us unique!
I love this post! Growing up I wanted to be “creative,” I thought that creativity only came to certain people. That is until I decided to attend an art school for college. I realized that creativity for me comes from being myself and listening to myself.
Xo
Autum Love
https://www.autumlove.com/
Wow! I would love to hear more about your experience at an art school.
All of this. Yes. Law of Conservation of Energy + Biblical creation. I know I say this with every post but this ish right here….love.
Thanks so much! I thought you’d like that point especially 🙂
When I hear creative, I always think of the arts. Music, paintings, sculptures, even graffiti. But it’s not our artistic ability that makes us creative, it is our ability to create in the first place and in any realm. 👍
Yes!! Music, paintings, etc…those are just ways we express our creativity visually, but like you said, it’s our ability to create that makes us creative 🙂
This is so good! I am all about being creative and creating new things. It fuels me and keeps me motivated when I know I am in the process of a new creation + I love to inspire others to do the same 🙂
Thank you so much! Creating is such a cathartic experience. I think it’s one of the best parts of life!
You better drop those gems!!!
Xx,
Aïchatou Bella
http://www.stilettosandstandards.com
Haha, thank you! Just trying to spread the tips that help me 🙂