I’m convinced everyone has capacity for creativity, and I can prove it. You’re already misusing creativity – even though you are using it – for these five things.
1. Debating on social media.
I’ve seen the creativity people have when it comes to online debates. Write a story on any topic – say whether or not kittens should be adopted – and some genius will relate the topic to Hitler or the Nazis. How they made that mental leap, I’ll never know. But it took creativity.
Imagine if we all took that sort of creativity we put into debating hot topics and applied it to our lives or our work.
2. Worrying about the future.
Your brain, if it’s anything like mine, creates whole worlds at night. When you’re worried about your finances and you see yourself sleeping in your car… Or when you’re worried your kids will grow up to be serial killers living in remote woodlands… That’s all creativity. And I know your brain invents some pretty crazy scenarios based on your fears. Mine sure does.
Again, what would it look like if we applied that energy to problems that are actually within our control?
3. Tearing people down who hurt you.
Whether it took you a few minutes or you spouted it off the top of your head, we’ve all experienced that light bulb thought of the perfect comeback when someone hurts our feelings. I generally try not to say it, but you know I’m thinking about it.
Creativity should never tear people down. In fact, I’m convinced creativity should be used to build people up – to create something good inside the other person.
4. Wishing the past was different.
If only I hadn’t… If only they hadn’t… Again, when you start thinking like that, you start creating new worlds that will never exist.
The cool thing about the creativity God has given us is that He does allow us to create worlds. But we must create those worlds within the reality set in front of us. That isn’t saying God won’t restore things you’ve lost, but it is saying we should work within what God has already given us. Those worlds will be far bigger and greater than we can even imagine.
5. Protecting ourselves from pain.
There’s one thing we’re promised: pain. It’s the first thing we experience in this world, emerging from our mother’s womb. Pain is inevitable, but our reaction to pain is the thing we can control.
Imagine if we spent less time protecting ourselves from pain, and more time responding creatively to the pain we experience.
You’re already using your creativity for negative things. We all do it. I want to encourage you to start investing your creative energy into positive things. Invest it into your relationships, your career, your church…
The world needs your creative thought. Don’t waste it on these negative things.
Some good points there, Jonathan. Human creativity really reflects the nature of our Creator, doesn’t it?