In the September, 2006, newsletter, I published an article entiled “The Creativity Curve,” with a graphic I made up illustrating the value of creative risk taking in business. It got me thinking. I figured that, if creativity works that way in business, why can’t I use that same model to talk about creativity in life? So after a little creative thinking in my shower, here’s what I came up with.
The Creativity Curve is a wonderful way of looking at creative risk in life. By creative risk, I mean taking a chance to stand out, to be different, to say what no one else will say, to put out your unique vision regardless of what others think. As you might imagine, there’s a correlation between creativity and happiness, or life satisfaction.
When I was in graduate school, an element of one of my research projects had to do with how families communicated with one another. Among other things, I looked at how their communication styles related to their happiness with each other.
I expected to find that the more positive and polite a family's communication was, the happier they were, and, for the most part, that's what the research showed. But there was one thing I hadn’t expected. I found one group of families who were very happy, but took much greater risks in talking to one another than did some families who were only moderately satisfied. In other words, being well behaved only led to a moderate level of happiness within the family. Families who took greater liberties with each other, who encouraged a broader range of communication, were actually happier. Imagine my surprise.
So what does this have to do with the Creativity Curve? Well, let’s look at the very broadest definition of creativity. Look at creativity as the ability to speak impulsively and intuitively. Look at creativity as the suspension of internal censors and judgment. Creativity literally enters into every aspect of life. And the pattern of the relationship between creativity and happiness/success/satisfaction is essentially the same everywhere. It looks like the Creativity Curve.
Conventional behavior feels safe. Following the crowd and always being polite may enable you to live a peaceful life and stay out of trouble, but it doesn't provide passion, meaningful connection, creativity, or joy. You may be flying under the radar, but you're cheating yourself out of the best life has to offer.
It's not only about accomplishments. It's actually more about the quality of your life, and of your connections with yourself, those you love, and the universe around you. Taking some risks, allowing yourself to behave in unexpected and unconvention ways, expressing your creative self, moves your life in the direction of greater satisfaction, more passion, and the opportunity for peak life experiences.
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