Creating Creative Confidence

"Everybody has creative potential and from the moment you can express this creative potential, you can start changing the world.”― Paulo Coelho

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Why are so many people so afraid of the idea of creativity?In our Creative Empowerment workshops, one of the most common things we hear from people is that they are not creative, not one of "those" creative types. And this is often said with a look of terror in their eyes. What is it about creativity that is so frightening?

Perhaps it's the idea that to be creative is to relinquish control.

I agree with Matisse - Creativity takes courage. 

As Pablo Picasso points out - The chief enemy of creativity is good sense. We are all told consistently to hold on to our good sense. To allow oneself to put aside that part of us that is in control, that is logical and rational is a scary thought.  But Einstein explained:

"I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking."

For those of us who have worked so hard to keep everything ordered and in control, the thought of relinquishing this control is scary.  But I love the image created by Lady Gaga about letting go to access one's creative spark.

“When you make music or write or create, it's really your job to have mind-blowing, irresponsible, condomless sex with whatever idea it is you're writing about at the time. ”

The reality is that we are ALL born creative!  Yes some of us are more artistic than others, or more talented in certain areas.  But all of us are creative.  The sad truth is that many of us have been shamed out of even trying to access our creative spark.  Some of us have even been taught out of our creativity. Sir Ken Robinson explains this beautifully in his numerous TED Talks!One man has made it his life's work to help others build their creative confidence.  David Kelly, of IDEO, explains how people lose their creative confidence and how he and others are working to help people regain that confidence.  Please take ten minutes to watch this inspiring TED Talk. It helps to reminds us that we are all creative, every one of us. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16p9YRF0l-g] Please let me know what you think David Kelley's talk.  And I’d love to hear how you build your creative confidence.And as always thank you for taking the time to visit, I appreciate it.