It’s Time To Rethink Creativity

Imagine if I told you, “Logic isn’t necessary to life.  When you have extra time, you can be logical.  But make sure, even then, to be careful with it, as logic has led to some horrible decisions.”

That kind of sounds like one big non-sequitur.  And I don’t think anyone except a guru living on a hilltop would advocate anything resembling it.

Maybe logic isn’t the essence of life, but it’s important for even the most basic tasks.  It is so woven into our daily life that saying it “isn’t necessary” is almost like saying half of our brain isn’t necessary.  Yes, we can live with half a brain, but a full brain would be nice, wouldn’t it?

And since it’s so part of our life, compartmentalizing it into “part of our life” also makes no sense.  What, should the person just do math on the side so they can satisfy their need for logic?  Logic is a part of our operating system, not a piece of software.  To limit it would be to fundamentally misunderstand its place in our life.

And careful with logic?  Yes, of course.  People thinking they are acting logically has led to things like the Holocaust, Communism (please don’t hate me, Communists), and… I guess most everything bad.  But really, the reason these things were dangerous was because they were fundamentally illogical.  They missed some reality of life, or ignored some fundamental truth.  Or they were emotion clouded in the words of logic.  Or they were logic twisted to cynically advance a hidden agenda.

So it would be… illogical… to blame logic for bad things in the world.  What these moments in history have taught us is the importance of logic, not the opposite.  

And so underusing it would be the exact opposite way to get to truth, to build a civilization, to grow internally.  It would be like outlawing the wheel because of automobile deaths.

But of course… all this is obvious, right?  You know this.  I know this.  The world knows this, and that’s why we put such a premium on logic.  In schooling, in how we live our lives, in the most important discussions that happen in the world.

So, if it’s so obvious with logic, why isn’t it with creativity?

 

Creativity is the other half of the brain that logic isn’t.

While logic allows us to follow a linear process of thought to an informed conclusion, creativity is what allows us to make the mental jumps between multiple thoughts in order to arrive at a conclusion that would be almost impossible to reach with logic.

Creativity is the bridge from our brain to our emotions: the filter by which we can heal our broken hearts, become more self-aware, and know when our logic is being twisted for the wrong ends.

Creativity is the genius working behind the scenes, working subconsciously to make connections and come to revelations we never would have achieved through conscious thought.

Creativity, in essence, is what distinguishes us from robots.  (And by the way, that fact is going to become increasing important as robots and AI take more and more of our jobs over time).

 

And yet.  If we took our above sentence about logic and applied to it to creativity, very few people, even creatives, would blink an eye:

“Creativity isn’t necessary to life.  When you have extra time, you can be creative.  But make sure, even then, to be careful with it, as creativity has led to some horrible decisions.”

How many schools have cut arts funding for this very reason?

How many people’s talents have been criminally underused because they do not even know they have half of their brain unused?

And, most importantly, how many lives have been shattered because they have not allowed an essential aspect of their humanity to be tapped? (I have little doubt that this is the source of many mental illnesses).

One of the biggest crimes of our culture is that we have put creativity into the box of art.  Ironically, this undermines both art and creativity.

Art is creativity distilled, much in the same way math is logic distilled.

Mathematics, for all its power, could easily be seen as having no practical effect on everyday life.  Schoolchildren all over the world think as much, if you need any proof.  And yet, as we’ve aged and learned more (both as individuals and as a civilization), we’ve discovered that math is woven into almost every great scientific achievement, every technological advance, every great breakthrough that has moved us forward as a people in modern history.

Imagine if we tried to put math in a box and hide it away from the rest of humanity, just using it for our own selfish need to be logical every now and then?

That’s what art has, in many ways, become.  To many people, at least.  To our larger culture for sure.

And yet, try as we might, we cannot help but allow art to affect every aspect of life.  It affects politics (there’s no better example than the 60s), it transforms our self-identity as much as it expresses it, and it fundamentally shapes the society we live in.

While math charts and allows us to use the inherently logical nature of the universe, art charts and allows us to use the inherently emotional nature of our humanity.

Saying creativity only applies to art, and thus art is a side activity, hampers us just as much as doing the same to math would do.

It has been proven repeatedly that creating and consuming art makes us healthier, happier, and more empathetic.  That’s not because it has a magic power.  It’s not because it’s a luxury.  It’s because when we don’t engage our creativity, we are not using half of our mental faculties, and are thus made unhealthy, unhappy, and less empathetic.  Just as it is the lack of exercise that makes us unhealthy.  It’s not normal to not use our creativity, and our bodies repeatedly try to tell us this.  We’re just not listening.

 

It’s time we finally shift the paradigm to fit reality: creativity is not a piece of our software, it is an essential part of our operating system.  It is not something we can open and use when we feel like it, it is something we use whether we like it or not.

When we ignore it, pretend it’s only for “some people,” or fear it, it’s not that we actually stop using it.  It runs as part of our system.  But we are untrained in its use.  We aren’t aware of its workings, or that even is working.  We are like people with a first grade education, unable to use all that is available to our incredible minds.

When we understand this, we realize that not being an artist doesn’t make us “uncreative” any more than someone who isn’t a mathematician isn’t illogical.  It’s something we all need training in, and it’s why art needs to be taught to all, just as math is.  Not to make us all artists, but to make us all human.


Posted

in

by

Tags:

Comments

70 responses to “It’s Time To Rethink Creativity”

  1. Rivki Silver Avatar
    Rivki Silver

    Yes. Yes.

  2. Nechama Avatar
    Nechama

    You know how they have this new program for schools called STEM, teaching science, tech, engineering and math (caught that acronym?!)?
    Well what if we came up with one for the right brain? What if we had kids journaling, and sculpting, and dancing and music appreciation? And what of this creative curriculum worked with STEM to make the explorations creatively fueled rather than information based. Who’s on it?!

    1. Rebecca K. Avatar
      Rebecca K.

      Educators often toss the “arts” part into it and change the acronym to STEAM. And it’s largely what feeds the Maker Movement.

      1. Nechama Avatar
        Nechama

        Oh goodness, don’t I feel dumb and also happy because now I don’t have to dedicate the rest of my life to this mission! Still, Elad’s article or general flow lately begs the question. . .what about the frum schools?

        1. Rebecca K. Avatar
          Rebecca K.

          Nearly every frum school could improve in this area.

          On the other hand, there is a girls’ day school that has an awesome STEAM program in the NE somewhere. They’ve won national prizes (in programming, I think). There’s also a school in the San Gabriel Valley (north of L.A.) called EMEK that does a lot of neat STEAM stuff. Those programs are run by Rae Shagalov and Judy Winegard.

          1. Nechama Avatar
            Nechama

            I will look them up. How do you know all of this?

          2. Rebecca K. Avatar
            Rebecca K.

            I used to be a teacher, and one of my subspecialties in grad school was school success and failure. My husband is still a teacher. And I’m a Maker junky.

  3. Jeremy McCandlish Avatar
    Jeremy McCandlish

    This tweet is more than 140 words…

    The keyword I snatched was EMPATHY

    http://breslev.eip.co.il/?key=35
    from
    “וְזֶה בְּחִינַת כֶּתֶר”

    (for englishers…basically it says “the crown/keter is related to waiting, as shown in the gemara story “a person who is approaching tahara, they help him. The analogy is to someone who was coming to a merchant to buy a high quality perfume. The merchant says to him “Wait for me, and we will measure it out together, and we will both leave smelling good.”

    It says a lot of other stuff too but that’s all I remember or care about for now)

    In my experience, this is what needs to happen…physically, mentally…wait, include what needs including, insist that it be included. then comes creative fulfillment

    “hold two contradictory thoughts in your mind until they resolve” — einstein said something like this. That’s the king/author/(whatever you want to call him) accepting the crown. Yes kabbalistically this can’t happen in a thought since we only have one thought, that’s why it happens in keter instead

    by practicing this…”empathy”…with our own bits, may we learn to practice it with others

    This is also how I read the pirkei avot saying “Don’t act with yourself like a lawyer”. Let both sides live

    I saw a similar thing one other place recently…will find it eventually

  4. Rebecca K. Avatar
    Rebecca K.

    I think a lot of the problem is that people tend to misunderstand what creativity is. They think of it as limited to the arts…worse yet, they limit it to 1) people who excel in the arts, and 2) definitions of the arts that are closely tied to Western definitions of art.

    The reality is that creativity is as crucial to engineering as to painting, and to getting along with people as with playing an instrument.

  5. Timothy Lipp Avatar
    Timothy Lipp

    Stress is fundamentally when we are focused on production, rather than creation.

  6. gate.io Avatar

    I may need your help. I tried many ways but couldn’t solve it, but after reading your article, I think you have a way to help me. I’m looking forward for your reply. Thanks.

  7. kobe shoes Avatar

    I wish to express thanks to you for rescuing me from this challenge. As a result of searching throughout the the net and obtaining tips that were not productive, I thought my entire life was done. Living without the approaches to the difficulties you’ve solved by way of your entire write-up is a critical case, and those that would have in a wrong way affected my entire career if I hadn’t discovered your blog. Your actual ability and kindness in handling all things was very useful. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had not encountered such a step like this. I’m able to now relish my future. Thanks a lot very much for this impressive and amazing help. I won’t be reluctant to suggest the blog to any person who ought to have care on this area.

  8. jordan outlet Avatar

    My wife and i felt delighted Michael could do his homework while using the ideas he got from your own web pages. It is now and again perplexing just to happen to be releasing secrets and techniques which often a number of people have been selling. Therefore we realize we have the writer to appreciate for that. The entire explanations you made, the simple web site menu, the relationships you aid to instill – it’s got most powerful, and it’s assisting our son and the family know that the subject is excellent, and that is incredibly important. Many thanks for all the pieces!

  9. palm angels Avatar

    I have to express thanks to the writer for rescuing me from this type of dilemma. As a result of searching through the the web and getting concepts that were not helpful, I figured my entire life was done. Existing devoid of the approaches to the difficulties you have sorted out all through your write-up is a critical case, and ones which might have negatively damaged my entire career if I hadn’t noticed your blog post. That competence and kindness in playing with every part was helpful. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a thing like this. I can at this point look forward to my future. Thank you very much for this high quality and sensible guide. I won’t hesitate to recommend your blog post to any person who ought to have tips on this subject matter.

  10. goyard outlet Avatar

    I enjoy you because of all of the work on this web site. My aunt really likes participating in investigations and it’s obvious why. Most people know all concerning the dynamic means you convey useful guides on this web site and cause contribution from other individuals about this topic so our favorite girl is truly being taught a whole lot. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the new year. You are always conducting a useful job.

  11. ggdb sneakers Avatar

    The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I know it was my choice to learn, however I actually thought youd have one thing fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you would fix if you happen to werent too busy in search of attention.

  12. supreme outlet Avatar

    My spouse and i got very lucky that Peter managed to do his investigation because of the ideas he gained from your very own web page. It’s not at all simplistic just to continually be giving out hints which people today might have been making money from. So we fully grasp we need the blog owner to thank for that. The illustrations you have made, the easy website menu, the relationships you help create – it’s got many exceptional, and it’s really leading our son and the family consider that this theme is entertaining, and that is seriously indispensable. Thanks for the whole lot!

  13. bape hoodie Avatar

    I am commenting to make you understand of the nice experience my cousin’s daughter obtained visiting your web site. She mastered several issues, including what it’s like to possess a very effective helping nature to have many others clearly know just exactly selected hard to do issues. You really exceeded our desires. Thanks for displaying the helpful, healthy, informative and as well as easy guidance on the topic to Gloria.

  14. goyard bag Avatar

    I just wanted to jot down a small comment to appreciate you for those superb ways you are showing at this site. My rather long internet search has at the end been compensated with reasonable details to exchange with my best friends. I ‘d claim that we website visitors are quite lucky to dwell in a useful site with very many special individuals with useful tactics. I feel extremely grateful to have used your weblog and look forward to plenty of more entertaining minutes reading here. Thanks again for a lot of things.

  15. michael jordan shoes Avatar

    I simply had to thank you very much once again. I’m not certain the things I would have followed without the actual techniques shared by you regarding that industry. It was actually a real alarming matter in my circumstances, nevertheless witnessing a skilled style you treated it took me to leap for delight. I’m happy for your assistance and thus hope you recognize what a powerful job you’re accomplishing teaching the others via your web page. Most probably you haven’t encountered any of us.

  16. bape Avatar

    Thanks for all your effort on this website. Kate takes pleasure in carrying out investigation and it’s easy to see why. Almost all hear all concerning the lively way you present rewarding tips and hints by means of this blog and recommend contribution from other people on this area of interest so our girl is really becoming educated a lot of things. Have fun with the rest of the new year. You are conducting a good job.

  17. golden goose sale womens Avatar

    I抦 impressed, I need to say. Really not often do I encounter a blog that抯 each educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is excellent; the difficulty is one thing that not sufficient individuals are talking intelligently about. I am very happy that I stumbled across this in my seek for one thing relating to this.

  18. Von Avatar

    I am really impressed with your writing skills and also
    with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme
    or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the
    nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one
    nowadays.

  19. Medikamente in Belgien leicht kaufen Avatar

    I just like the valuable info you provide to your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
    I’m reasonably certain I will learn many new stuff proper here!

    Good luck for the following!

  20. golden goose shoes sale Avatar

    After examine a number of of the blog posts on your web site now, and I truly like your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site listing and will probably be checking again soon. Pls try my web page as well and let me know what you think.

  21. indicación de ozapim en venta en Ecuador Avatar

    Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog
    and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed
    surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I’ll
    be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write once more very soon!

  22. nasobec en vente en Suisse sans ordonnance Avatar

    Hi! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers?
    I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?

  23. lamisil recommandé par les experts en fertilité Avatar

    You actually make it seem really easy along with your presentation however I find this matter
    to be actually one thing that I think I might never understand.
    It seems too complicated and extremely vast for me. I am taking a look forward for your subsequent put up, I will attempt to
    get the hold of it!

  24. Preis von valpridol in der Apotheke Avatar

    I’ll right away seize your rss as I can not in finding
    your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter
    service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me realize in order that I
    may subscribe. Thanks.

  25. farmacia que vende cycloviran 400 mg Avatar

    Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO?
    I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m
    not seeing very good success. If you know of any please
    share. Thanks!

  26. veramix avec ou sans prescription médicale Avatar

    I always emailed this web site post page to all my associates,
    for the reason that if like to read it next my friends will too.

  27. nike dunks Avatar

    An interesting discussion is worth comment. I feel that you should write extra on this matter, it won’t be a taboo subject however typically people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  28. medroxy gemakkelijk kopen in België Avatar

    Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your weblog posts.
    After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write once more soon!

  29. irving shoes Avatar

    I was very pleased to seek out this internet-site.I wished to thanks on your time for this wonderful learn!! I positively enjoying each little little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.

  30. kyrie 8 Avatar

    Would you be fascinated about exchanging links?

  31. où trouver du accutane Avatar

    This info is priceless. How can I find out more?

  32. yeezy 350 v2 Avatar

    Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I would like to put in writing like this additionally ?taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article?however what can I say?I procrastinate alot and certainly not seem to get something done.

  33. Noe Avatar

    Nice blog here! Also your site loads up very fast!
    What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate
    link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours
    lol

  34. Golden Goose Avatar

    Your house is valueble for me. Thanks!?

  35. yeezy outlet Avatar

    I discovered your blog website on google and examine just a few of your early posts. Continue to maintain up the superb operate. I simply extra up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Searching for ahead to reading extra from you afterward!?

  36. black golden goose sneakers Avatar

    I wish to convey my passion for your generosity for folks that should have help with this issue. Your real commitment to passing the message throughout turned out to be rather effective and has in most cases enabled women like me to attain their goals. The helpful facts entails a whole lot a person like me and somewhat more to my mates. Thank you; from everyone of us.

  37. pharmacie vendant du mupirocin à Lyon Avatar

    Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d
    figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing
    a blog article or vice-versa? My website discusses a lot of the same topics
    as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other.
    If you’re interested feel free to send me an email. I look
    forward to hearing from you! Wonderful blog by the way!

  38. kd shoes Avatar

    After examine a few of the blog posts in your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site checklist and shall be checking back soon. Pls take a look at my web site as nicely and let me know what you think.

  39. Von Fachleuten empfohlene Medikamente Avatar

    Hi it’s me, I am also visiting this site on a regular basis, this web site
    is actually pleasant and the visitors are actually sharing pleasant thoughts.

  40. Rhys Avatar

    Every weekend i used to visit this web page, for the reason that
    i want enjoyment, since this this web site conations truly pleasant funny data too.

  41. Francisco Avatar

    you are really a excellent webmaster. The website loading velocity is incredible.
    It sort of feels that you’re doing any unique
    trick. Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a
    great task in this subject!

  42. precio del actoplus-met con receta médica Avatar

    Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
    The text in your article seem to be running
    off the screen in Safari. I’m not sure if this is a format
    issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
    The design and style look great though! Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Thanks

  43. optibet online beschikbaar in Frankrijk Avatar

    I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the
    head. The problem is something which not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about.

    I’m very happy I came across this in my search for something regarding this.

  44. Gretchen Avatar

    Hello friends, how is all, and what you wish for to say regarding
    this article, in my view its actually remarkable in support of me.

  45. xyllomac disponibile in farmacia a Rotterdam Avatar

    It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I am glad that you
    simply shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up
    to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

  46. Rosaria English Avatar

    É importante que seja feita a verificação no http://vitrarium.com/component/k2/item/6.html-up, a fim de que as principais funcionalidades envolvendo pagamentos – evitando, assim, fraudes, lavagem de dinheiro, contas fake, entre outros problemas.

  47. adalat sans prescription médicale au Maroc Avatar

    I got this web page from my friend who informed me about this web site and now this time
    I am browsing this website and reading very informative articles at this
    time.

  48. youubbe.me Avatar

    I’m grateful for the blog post. I’m really looking forward to reading more. Fantastic. youubbe.me

Leave a Reply to Nechama Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *