Creative Rebellion Essays: Creativity = Freedom

California Oaks by John S. Couch

I was interviewed over the weekend by Dov Baron for his video-podcast called Curiosity Bites (my episode comes out in a couple of months -- stay tuned). Dov is a charismatic man whose resume runs from being a leadership coach to author to speaker to podcaster just to name a few arenas. Our discussion was very far-reaching and varied to say the least, running the gamut from design to art to business to languages and culture to being a parent. Underlying the whole discussion was the theme of creativity. 

At one point I blurted out that, to me, creativity equates to freedom.

We all have our routines that we follow and it’s comforting, knowing that things are where they are supposed to be. But routines can turn into ruts and this doesn’t allow for new things to occur. Evolution happens because of the mistakes, the mutations in our DNA. In order to evolve as a fully realized human, I ascertained that a creative mindset isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. In the business world, it’s often referred to as innovation but in reality, that’s just another way to say creativity. 

The irony is that as a nation we hold freedom dearly but as a society we tend towards conformity. We initially resent and then admire those who play by their own rules (assuming they survive the resentment.) I mentioned to Dov something that I wrote about in my upcoming book, The Art of Creative Rebellion, which I’ll excerpt here: 

“Creative minds are the foundation of any company, whether they’re designers or product managers or visionary janitors. Companies, being microcosms of society, tend to disparage and fear the truly innovative, the rebel, the iconoclast. In 1997, Apple famously used a series of rebels in their Think Different campaign, initially spotlighting Amelia Earhart, Alfred Hitchcock, Pablo Picasso, Mahatma Gandhi and Thomas Edison. They went on to associate themselves with Maria Callas, Martha Graham, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Richard Feynman, Charlie Chaplin and others. All of these people, at one time in their careers, were no doubt ridiculed, belittled, mocked and badmouthed before they were venerated. Can you imagine any of them working well in your current company, or any company you’ve ever worked in? Probably not.”

This tendency towards conformity comes from a need to fit in, to be part of a tribe. I get it, we are all, to some extent, part of a tribe. But when that tribe limits your ability to be who you are, then it is limiting your freedom. It is limiting your creativity. 

We have a tendency to think that real, adult work entails repressing one’s own desires to create: music, art, dance, theater, literature or even do yoga. Upstanding people focus on work and then family (which, don’t get me wrong, is important) to the exclusion of “childish” indulgences like drawing for half an hour. We feel bad, selfish, carving out time for something for ourselves. Even meditation or working out can be thrown into the “less important” than work pile.

But I’m convinced that creative time is important as a self-care exercise time in the gym or eating well or sleeping adequately.

I’ve always resisted limitations. Who is anyone or any institution to tell you what you can and cannot do? It’s insane if you think about it. We allow other people’s opinions to rule our lives by limiting our potential. This can often start in childhood – you tell your friends you want to be a poet and they laugh you out of the room. Or you draw a picture and it’s met with indifference by a parent. Or your short story gets rejected by so many publishers or magazines that you finally give up.

But don’t give up. 

Rebel against inherited beliefs and constraints. Question everything. And if you are going to blindly believe in anything, believe in yourself. Why not? It may be delusional but optimism often leads to something unexpected whereas pessimism’s road ends in dank, boring stagnation. 

As Dov would say, Go into the dark cave and release your inner dragon. Its fire will illuminate the way.

And remember:

Creativity = freedom.

John

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If you like what you are reading, please pre-order The Art of Creative Rebellion, in stores January 21st.