Your Creative Self

Creative You

Remember how much fun you had when you were a kid? Inventing cool stuff. Creating your own games. Decorating your bedroom like some weird-ass shrine to your fave singer/actor/band. Being a rock star in front of the mirror. Making up stupid songs with your stupid friends. Killing bad guys (maybe that was just me). Singing, dancing, drawing, painting, writing fantastical stories. Telling awesome lies to get out of stuff (me again). Generally being creative. You didn’t need to worry about what your singing voice sounded like, whether or not your dancing looked silly or whether your stories made much sense at all. It didn’t matter one bit because it was all about freedom of expression, developing your creative self, hanging out with your friends and of course, having fun. It was mostly about fun. And you had plenty. Because you were creating.

Early Retirement

You only learned to worry and be self-conscious about your creative self as you got older. And what a sad day it was when you learned that lesson. As you became more and more self-conscious, you became less and less creative and adventurous. You sang less, danced less, created less and took less chances. Had less fun too. Creative You became completely agoraphobic – never wanting to leave the house. Scared of public places and attention. Creative You went into semi-retirement. Looking out the window every day but rarely coming out to play.

You do remember Creative You don’t you? And you do remember when you didn’t care what people thought about your ability or talent? It was much easier then wasn’t it? When was the last time you two spoke? It’s probably been a while. Pity.

Let me out!

If you’re like many people, then Creative You is still in there somewhere desperately waiting to be heard once again. Desperately wanting to play a part in your life. Or just play. Wanting to make you smile like you once did. Wanting to sing into that hairbrush, roll in the dirt, shoot the bad guy, write the fairytale, create the award-winning play and do fun stuff just because you can. Not because it’s strategic or timely, not because it’s what’s expected and certainly not because it makes sense. No, simply because it’s fun and being creative is part of who you are.

Or who you once were.

Sadly, logical and grown-up you has been running the show for too long. Creative You hasn’t been seen or heard from for years. Sometimes he (she) tries to be heard but sensible, clever you simply talks louder. Sometimes sensible, clever you is an idiot.

Something from nothing

I believe passionately that many of us are happiest when we’re creating. Taking an idea and turning it into a ‘something’. A theory, a thought into a reality. Creating and innovating rather than duplicating and imitating. Very cool.

Like Sir Ken Robinson, I believe that most of our educational systems actually beat the creative desire out of our kids. By the time they reach their teenage years they have learned that singing, dancing, inventing, painting, drawing and expressing their creativity is less than desirable out in the real world and should take a back seat to all things academic. Not that we all need to be performers or artists (as such), but we do all need to express our creativity because on some level, that’s who we are. Without creativity and original thought we simply become boring, unfulfilled clones of each other.

“I’m not sure what I think, what do you think I should think?”

We’re so worried about fitting in and not looking foolish that we get scared to let our creative self have a voice. If I didn’t let my creative self have a voice this blog wouldn’t exist and you wouldn’t be reading this article. Your life would be craig-harper-less (stop it).

Okay, bad example.

Two years ago I didn’t know what a blog was and all of my writing was for magazines and books. It was mostly academic-type, science-based articles about health and fitness – not always riveting stuff. For too long I had not let my creative self have a voice (when it came to my writing anyway). I worried – “what if I write something that I find hilarious, amusing and entertaining but nobody else does?”

The genesis of medotcom

So with Johnnie kicking my ass, I decided to take a chance, create a blog and write about whatever I wanted to, rather than what my editors wanted or what other people thought was appropriate to come from the keyboard of an exercise scientist dude. I have since learned to love the creative freedom of a blog. To love having no editors. No rules. To write about what I want, when I want and if I want.

No rules

If I want to write something funny, I can. Philosophical, I can do that too. Thought-provoking, yep. Controversial, no problem. If I want to be a motivator on Tuesday, a scientist on Wednesday and a story-teller on Thursday, that’s okay – cause there ain’t no rules on my blog. I can even use horrible grammar and misspell wurdz because this crap doesn’t get marked!!! And I can say crap too!

There are probably lots of sensible reasons why I shouldn’t be a creative writer and even more reasons why you shouldn’t listen to me – you know I have issues right? But hey, I’m gonna keep doing it anyway ’cause it’s kinda fun.

Besides, I like creative me the most.

If the last time you did something creative was in the eighties, then why don’t you surprise yourself today. Do something different. Stop doing the same. Don’t do it because it’s sensible, mature, responsible or strategic, do it because it gives you pleasure and it’s part of who you are.

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