Why Creativity is Important

Creativity is often overlooked and not given the true value that it deserves. In this blog, we talk about why creativity IS important and how it can help us in all areas of life.

Creativity is one of the most important qualities and skills we can have and yet, we don’t value it as we should.

People are suspicious of ‘creativity’, probably because it doesn’t fit neatly into a box or when it does, it soon pops out again, becoming something new or different.

Creativity people tend to be contradictory, complex and frustrating characters. You only have to look at famous painters, tortured by their own artistic genius and yet so very vulnerable to understand how it can be both a curse and a blessing.

Creative people see the world in all its complexity. Modern culture demands decisiveness. Thus, to change your mind on an important topic is a disgrace and an affront to modern society.

The result? Rigid thinking patterns, the reason why, say some psychologists and social commentators, that creativity is not valued, permitted and in the main, not encouraged.

But it is time we did encourage it. But why? Are there real bonuses to being creative or is it ‘just a nice thing to be’?

Creative minds mean BETTER PROBLEM SOLVING

Solutions can be hard to come by, can’t they? Presented with a problem with no way out is everyone’s worst nightmare.

We only have to look at the recent rescue of the football team trapped in caves in Thailand to understand how a creative mind contributes to problem-solving.

There is no doubt that in such a rescue, there will have been many solutions discussed. And all of these would have been put forward by creative minds.

There is a place for logic and linear thinking, but does it always yield the solutions we need?

You’ll LIVE LONGER

It was a small American study based on a group of 1,349 male veterans, the majority of whom (90%) were white. It could be argued that the sample was small and skewed, meaning that the results are not really worth much.

But let’s be creative about the findings and what it could mean…

The result of the study confirmed what we already knew – poor lifestyle choices gave way to poor health – but there was one factor that stuck out. Men who were ‘creative’ or choose to describe themselves with adjectives that researchers labelled them as creative, lived on average longer than their not-so-creative counterparts.

As yet, the findings have not been delved into deeper than that, with some suggesting a more scientific approach may be necessary. However, for some people who have long argued the value of creativity, this is the start of the proof that they need.

Maybe it is the non-linear, creative approach to problem-solving and other choices that they made that contributed to a 12% lower mortality rate in the creative men within this study?

You’ll be MORE CONFIDENT

Self-confidence and self-esteem are built on shifting sands. Yesterday, you were oozing confidence and self-belief but today, you don’t feel the same.

Creative people understand this better than most because the art of being creative is just as subjective. Yesterday, the words flowed, the painting took shape or your photography was simply stunning but today, you are struggling to see the beauty in the bright blue sky or find the motivation to understand what makes a scene.

It is a risk. And if you are willing to face the risk, you will need to build confidence and for creative people, this is something that they do – and sometimes from failure.

For some people, the thought of failing makes the blood run cold but for those in creative realms, failure is a part of creative success.

In other words, as you expand your portfolio for creative photography courses, some people will love your quirky photographer style. Others won’t get it. Others will be verbally critical.

New ways of EXPRESSING YOURSELF

We, as a society, have been talking more about mental health. We have been encouraging each other to express our emotions. We have urged people – men, women, children, young people and the older generation – to talk and share their emotions.

We have helped people to share negative emotions and to share when they are in dark places. We encourage people to share the good times too.

Being creative or taking part in a creative past time whether that is writing, singing, painting or taking photos and sharing them could be the part of the answer in expressing emotions safely and with a certain degree of comfort.

It is SATISFYING

It could be a well turned out a home-baked loaf or a fantastic photo you have taken, edited and framed – whatever it is, the warm glow of satisfaction is life-affirming.

What creative things do you do on any given day?