Am I Creative?

Am I creative? I used to think I was. I was involved in artistic ventures in music and theatre. I was part of a creative team in the advertising biz. But lately my definition of creativity has grown more restrictive and I find myself not included. I’m wondering why.

These days I think creativity means bringing something new into being- a work of art, an innovation in business, a new way of seeing or thinking. Something that hasn’t existed before.

I think part of the reason I’m counting myself out is because I’m married to someone who is driven to express himself in multiple ways. He studies and consumes the creations of others and puts his own work out into the world regularly. He doesn’t judge me but in comparison to him I come up short.

I don’t fret about it or ache with longing to be other than I am. I’ve just noticed that recently when asked if I describe myself as “creative” I’ve started saying “no” and that surprises me.

Now that I think about it I realize it’s not true that I’m not creative. I look at things in unconventional ways. I have a vivid and childlike imagination. I enhance a musical arrangement with harmony. I create environments that elicit growth for my clients and inspiring stories from my podcast guests.

My creativity is expressed more in embellishing something that is already present rather than an invention that has never before existed.

That counts.

Originally published at https://lizsumner.com on April 16, 2021.