5 Creativity Myths You Need to Stop Believing

Where do great ideas come from? Are some people “blessed” with the gift of creativity? Can anyone learn to be creative?

Creativity is one of those words we commonly use but seldom agree on. I bet if you asked 50 people what they understand about creativity you would get 50 different answers, many of them shrouded in myth.

Here are 5 common creativity myths you need to stop believing if you want to give yourself the chance of producing great work.

Myth #1: Only artists are creative.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. As human beings we all have the capacity to be creative. As the renowned creativity expert Michael Michalko put it: “The artist is not a special person, each one of us is a special kind of artist. Every one of us is born a creative, spontaneous thinker. The only difference between people who are creative and people who are not is a simple belief.”

Myth #2: Creativity is not work.

Not so! After all, the word creativity comes from the Latin term “creo” which means “to create or make”. You can’t make something by doing nothing.The problem that many people have is that they tend to use “being creative” as an excuse for not following up on their ideas. However, creativity doesn’t end with a great idea. The hallmark of true creativity is being able to work with an idea and to see it right through to its manifestation.

Myth #3: You need to be confident to be creative.

Creativity isn’t restricted to a personality type. And confidence isn’t a prerequisite for creativity. I’d love to meet a writer or entrepreneur who doesn’t experience bouts of self-doubt from time to time. The creative process is inherently uncertain.

Myth #4: Creativity comes in flashes of inspiration

Many of us have read about creative ideas, discoveries or scientific breakthroughs which seem to have come to the creative geniuses “out of the blue”. Yet, when you look at this myth more closely it becomes apparent that the flashes of inspiration came when the foundation for them had already been laid. I am unlikely to get a flash of inspiration about an innovation in water filtration systems because that’s a topic I know nothing about. I am far more likely to get an idea for a new personal development course to offer or a book to write because my mind is immersed in the world of personal development all the time. Inspiration comes to those who are primed to receive it.

Myth #5: Really creative people have great ideas.

We all have the potential to be creative, and we all have ideas. Not all ideas are great. And not all great ideas succeed. That’s a reality of life. The point is what you do with a great idea and how willing you are to put it to the test. Furthermore, you must be willing to fail at first and perhaps many times, even when you have a brilliant idea. Failure is an important part of the creative process because it gives you feedback about what’s not working and allows you to make changes and adjustments that will elevate the quality of your work.

Creativity is not the sole preserve of geniuses who lock themselves away to wait for creative downloads from the ether. We all have the capacity to be creative and to come up with innovative solutions to the problems we face, provided we are willing to work hard and immerse ourselves in our endeavours, and we don’t shy away from the ever-present possibility of failure.

Maria Phalime is a medical doctor and author of the award-winning memoir, Postmortem - The Doctor Who Walked Away. She shares insights and tools to help you become the best version of yourself at www.mariaphalime.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for her weekly newsletter.