Yes I know, I’m really late with this one. The new challenge will go up in a couple of hours, but I was at a conference and then away on vacation. Nonetheless, I hope this piece makes it’s point. Also I know I’ve gone to this theme a few times recently but I still think it bears repeating.
What could be stupider than a giraffe whose afraid of heights? He was created for heights, his long neck designed to reach the tree tops where he can eat the leaves no other creature can reach, a reward designed for him alone.
I’m a little afraid of heights too, but it’s nowhere near my greatest fear. For years my greatest fear was probably failure. The thing is for a creative to fear failure is to limit oneself to what is safe and predictable and while safe and predictable is very comfortable, very few new exciting things come out of safe and predictable. To fear failure is to severely hamper ones creativity. Somehow we have to realize that to be a creative involves failure.
Now there is nothing wrong with responsibility and practicality. There is nothing wrong with minimizing risk, doing your research and due diligence, but sooner or later we need to create something, take the risk and put it out there for the world to see.
They say Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he created a working light bulb. I’m pretty glad he didn’t quit. When asked about his failures, he said something to the effect of I didn’t fail, I discovered 10,000 ways not to make a lightbulb.
To be a successful creative, don’t embrace your fear, embrace your vision and the Creator who gave it to you. Small children don’t fear creative failure, they do their best to make what they see in their heads. They create with abandon. Maybe that’s what we need to do. Picasso once said “All children are artists. … The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” I think I know how. We abandon fear and create with abandon. That’s how we reach the heights for which we were created. That’s how we reach the rewards we alone were created to reach.
David – I love this topic, and I agree, it bears repeating, again and again. In my own experience of talking with artists, of working with actors especially, the biggest impediment we had to overcome was the fear of failure. Somehow, in school, we’re all taught that “failure” is not to be tolerated. Are you familiar with Sir Ken Robinson and his TED Talks? Like you, he hits the nail right on the head; “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” (Ken Robinson)
What I found in my work/talks with artists is that they need a safe place which allows them to experiment freely without judgement or criticism. Thank you for sharing this truth.
Here’s a link to a very powerful Sir Ken/TED talk. He’s truthful, humorous, and liberating. I believe your readers will find liberation in what he has to say.
Sir Ken Robinson | A TED talk on creativity and education
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Happy, messy, experimental creativity to you!
Lew Curtiss / Visual Artist / https://www.facebook.com/LewCurtissVisualArtist
You’ll love this. While I was away at my work conference, I spent an early morning writing a chapter for my upcoming free ebook/manifesto (Ministering to the Creative Soul). The title of the chapter is “A Safe Place to Fail.” One day you and I have to get together and have a little chat. I don’t suppose your church would be interested in bringing me in as a guest speaker??? or for an event or anything. I am very familiar with Sir Kenneth Robinson and his TED talk. The whole time I listened I was thinking, “here’s a really smart person who thinks what I think!” It was almost like listening to an affirmation of my life’s work. Have you ever listened to Benjamin Zander? He’s another creativity expert, and the conductor of a major symphony. His stuff is great.
David – I believe these kinds of synchronicity are the work of the Holy Spirit; that you should be writing a chapter entitled “A Safe Place to Fail” is amazing. I’m surprised also by the title of your book, “Ministering to the Creative Soul” because I had a recent conversation with another artist. He and I are exploring meaningful artist’s gatherings here in Seattle. The connection to your book is this, he likes to call them Soul Care for Artists.
I’ll delve into Benjamin Zander and yes, I agree that we need to meet someday and have a little chat.
Blessings to you in your continued work,
Lew Curtiss / https://creativeharmonies.wordpress.com/
David – You’ve hit the nail right on the head, and this is worth repeating again and again.
It’s my belief, largely because of our Public Education, that we’ve been taught the age old adage; “Failure is not an option.” If some critic isn’t after us, our own left-brain takes up the mantra telling us that we must not fail. As you’ve stated though, creativity is predicated on experimentation and with it many failures.
In my own working/talking with artists, especially actors, I found that what creatives need most is a safe, non-judgemental place to create. Safety and permission to experiment are crucial. I often tell my creative friends, “Sometimes you’ve just got to tell your left-brain to shut up and go sulk in the corner.” Heavens, I even have to monitor my own self-talk to remain courageous as I make my artworks.
Have you heard of Sir Ken Robinson? He’s a globally renown advocate for creativity and reminds us that; “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” (Ken Robinson)
Here’s a link to his TED Profile page where your readers can find his talks;
http://www.ted.com/speakers/sir_ken_robinson.html
Happy creativity,
Lew Curtiss / https://creativeharmonies.wordpress.com/