Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties

Creativity is inherent in all of us. The only limitation is in our mind because we do not believe in it. If we search inside ourselves, we will be surprised to see our mind buzzing with ideas. And I seriously mean each one of us. Everyone. In fact, the mere fact that everyone is different with varying opinions, views and the ability to think new things makes us creative. But expressing about the things you are passionate about requires a lot of boldness & courage.

Expressing creativity means picking something that is deeply personal to you & sharing it with others at the risk of being judged. For many of us, our creativity is somehow diluted by the pressure to conform to societal norms or our fear of being judged or rejected. So the one who is free of this fear, can truly be called an artist. After all, a true artist is someone who doesn’t conform to what the world says, but focuses more on what he feels and expresses through the art. This same is applicable to entrepreneurship also. All entrepreneurs are artists & their ideas are the creative expressions. All of us have great ideas but we can’t take that one major step (leap of faith) because we are fearful about the uncertain outcomes. Most of us are scared of diving into the unknown, of uncertainty, of unfamiliarity, of not knowing what’s going to happen. We are scared that things could go wrong, that things will be uncomfortable, and that things might not go as expected.

So here it is !! People have a right to voice their opinion. So no matter how good or bad you are, you will be judged. However, should you let the fear of being judged deter you? Many would say yes (out of confusion & fear), but if you are true to yourself and your creation, you should not let that fear dictate how you express your ideas. Instead, you should try to build up the strength to take both praise and critique in your stride. No one should have the power to make you question your creativity if you truly believe in it. So inculcate positivity, learn to let go, and develop the resilience to bounce back with your full might after any negative episode.

My own creative journey has definitely been one of personal growth & reflection. I used to let go my creative ideas because I didn’t have the courage to put myself out there. It was more about outcome, judgements & certainty based results. Thankfully, I’ve gotten to the point where I think expressing creativity through writing, designing & blogging is worth taking the risk of receiving negative feedback. My 63 years old mother has started painting once again after all these years. Recently she has lost her husband, lost her memory during a major brain stroke. Yet she has painted this beautiful Lord Ganesha out of her gratitude & devotion. She is courageous enough to not get afraid of the fear of judgement.

Throughout my life I have drawn inspiration from my mother. Today, I encourage you to pursue your own creative ideas, even if you are fearful & anxious about it. When you share your creativity with the world, you inspire others to be vulnerable & share their ideas too :)