"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."
— Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd President of the United States
1882 - 1945
Creativity is not limited to writers, artists and musicians. Anyone can be creative if they open themselves up and listen to the ideas inside. Who has not had a better idea about something? There are creative business people who have new ideas about how to do something better. There are creative doctors who develop better ways to treat patients. My dentist has developed 12 products that he has sold on the market. Unfortunately, some people bury their creativity deep inside. They even announce loudly to those around them: "I don't have a creative bone in my body." We all have the potential to be creative if we allow ourselves the opportunity.
Creativity is one of the most thrilling acts that we as humans can participate in. If you have ever experienced the excitement of chasing a new idea or exploring a new way of seeing the world you will understand what Roosevelt is saying. Some people might say that Roosevelt was not creative. He did not produce any great works of art. His creativity lay in his ability to change the way he and others saw the world. The ideas that rose to the surface during his Presidency dramatically changed life in the United States and around the world. People today are still trying to understand the impact of changes Roosevelt created in our society and our politics. Roosevelt was a creative leader.
I have come to believe that one of the blessings in disguise in my life was the rejection of religion at young age. It released a tidal wave of creativity within me. It freed me to question any idea. Otherwise, I think, today I would find myself in a straitjacket of rules and regulations. As a child I was obsessed with the Bible. I would have an anxiety attack if anything was placed on top of the Bible. I had to remove it immediately. If I had continued down that path, it would have led to some form of insanity.
What are you doing to cultivate creativity in your life? Give yourself the freedom to look at the world in new ways. See the world in ways that others don't. Don't accept things as they are. Question why? Creativity is not about technique. It is about seeing the world in new ways.
