I’ve been exploring the concept of creativity a lot lately. Almost from a child-like perspective — half the time feeling as if I was getting introduced and familiarized with the idea as if I had never encountered it before. ‘Creativity’ has become this all-intriguing, ever-so-mystifying, exponentially growing part of my world of thought. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that it is the solution to largely all of our problems, both personal and societal. Creativity has the potential to unlock unprecedented amounts of human potential, and there’s never been a better time to take it this seriously.
I find it almost comical to rediscover something as fundamental as the notion of creativity as a fully grown adult. Creativity has always been a significant part of my life, so I don’t mean that I’ve lived in a dark hole without inspiration or imagination up until now. This process of rediscovery has been more of one of reflection: What does creativity mean to me personally? How can I embrace a more creative daily life? How can I use creativity as a way to shed layers and unlock new ways of thinking? And so on…
In the most simple of terms, I’ve come to think of creativity as a dualistic inter-play between experience (input) and expression (output). The input being all the experiences and ideas from the external world: informing me of what’s possible and providing me with a library of resources (ideas, knowledge, etc). The output, on the other hand, is how I connect and combine it all, and ultimately what I end up doing with it (my work, things I write, how I choose to live, etc).
This ever-present synergy or tango between experience and expression is the basis of my creativity. The more I feed it with good experiences and space for thought/reflection, the more creativity there is — it is an infinite resource. I love when Maya Angelou said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
I’ve been playing around with this notion of creativity in many small ways. I’ve started dressing more colourfully, even elaborately sometimes — trying new things just for the fun of it. I’ve been seeking out more soul-filling activities; sound baths, jazz concerts, museums — looking to be truly present in these experiences. I’ve slowly started to cultivate a journaling practice, and dare I say will soon bridge the gap toward an actively spiritual one. These are all small things, but when done mindfully, it’s incredible what it can do for the spirit. Daily life through the lens of creativity becomes closely interlinked with intentionality, authenticity, self-awareness, and fun. My life feels more exciting for it, and my work is a direct beneficiary, too.
I think many of us were schooled to think that some people were creatives, others scientists, entrepreneurs, or doctors. This nonsensical distinction between creatives and the rest is just silly. And being creative doesn’t necessarily have to do anything with the arts. It’s often defined as the ability to generate or recognise ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating, and entertaining ourselves and others. These are abilities relevant in practically every circumstance — personal and professional. I love the way Rick Rubin words this idea in his book, The Creative Act:
“Those who do not engage in the traditional arts might be wary of calling themselves artists. They might perceive creativity as something extraordinary or beyond their capabilities. A calling for the special few who are born with these gifts. Fortunately this is not the case. Creativity is not a rare ability. It is not difficult to access. Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It’s our birthright. And it’s for all of us.”
I deeply resonate with the sentiment that creativity is our birthright — a fundamental aspect of being human. It makes it feel truly innate, something to be uncovered, available to all. Another meaningful area of my reflection has been around how we can help others unlock their creative potential, and to self-express more freely. This of course is the whole basis of Sane, so I’ve had the privilege of thinking through these ideas in-depth and together with our brilliant team. Our thesis lands along the very same lines: we’re all creative beings with something unique to share. And when we’re not creating and sharing, it’s a tool problem, not a human one.
Certainly, there are different tools we can use for enabling creativity. Some of them less material (practicing mindfulness) or more physically experiential (going to a jazz concert). But I also believe that there is potential to be unlocked with building technology that aids the process of creativity. Some of the questions we’ve pored over the most are: How can we make people feel like they have something to share? What enables creativity on the level of an interface? How can we lower the barrier of entry for creating? Are there ways in which we can better ignite the initial process of self-expression?
While this is a noble cause for individual empowerment, it’s also a societal one. At Sane, we think about the future of work as the future of creativity, rather than productivity. Referencing Scott Belsky: ‘productivity is about squeezing all the value out of existing resources, creativity and creative thinking are about discovering new resources’. The technology industry has done its part in increasing productivity, with an ever-growing offering of tools that help you automate, delegate, and optimise. But in order to unlock unprecedented amounts of human potential, our focus will have to be directed towards enabling creativity and self-expression — not just optimising for objectives.
As I wrote in this essay from last year, we’re living in an era that presents us the unique opportunity to redefine the essence of life. AI will open up a new realm of possibilities for reimagining what work, life, and being human means to us. Following on this hypothesis, we’ll get the chance to liberate ourselves from a pure objectives-oriented life, with more time for thinking and play. With the right structures around, it’s hard to imagine how a society of creative, connected, and aligned people wouldn’t transform the world, for the better.