Are you creative?

I'm finding myself spending more time, and being drawn to, creatives.  What defines being a creative? How can one become creative, and ultimately, what's the point?

I think being creative is doing something in a way nobody else is. That's not to say that it has to be original. It doesn't. It has to offer a layer of value or meaning not seen elsewhere. Let's take Banksy and his work as an example of something creative. The images he uses are often found elsewhere: he doesn't invent them. He uses graffiti as his chosen medium, just like so many teenagers around the world. He comments on the issues of the day, but that is nothing new either. 

His creative element is merging social commentary and utilising images in startling contrast to the environment he puts them in. That's the creative element, taking three strands of his thought process, merging them and putting it out there for all and sundry to devour. I'm sure it is possible to be creative in secret, and Lord knows I've got a lot of creative things that I've not shared, but what's the point of being a secret creative? I'm not sure that there is any, and I think thats down to one of the by-products of being creative. High output. 

I'm not talking car manufacturing line with a six sigma level of accuracy. High output in terms of just producing and revelling in that. I've recently toyed with a great book, the Artists Way which has really embedded the concept of morning pages into my life. 

The concept is simple. Write three pages, by hand, every morning. 

I was sceptical when I started, as what's that going to achieve?

Except that its had a huge impact on me. It's as though it does flush out all of the nonsense that accumulates in my internal world (I'm conscious of not saying our, as who am I to presume to know your inner workings?) and out pop ideas. Lots of them aren't going anywhere, but that's ok... as the sheer act of engaging my inner wizard is so energising. There isn't a point, but when I begin to doubt the worthwhileness of writing them, and I stop, Lord knows I feel awful. It's like I'm stuck in a  straightjacket. 


So I think my conclusions are that you've got to practice being creative. You have to have a regular time to be creative, to help get your thinking out of the daily grind and the human doing way of modern life. And the point is? Well, at the very least it releases your inner child, after all, if you give a child a box full of art materials, they may not produce a million dollar painting, but they certainly know how to have fun.