Why do you want to be creative?

Why do you want to be creative? Why do you want to do anything?
This knowledge is fundamental to your creative process.

This can be a simple or complex answer. Depending on what you are doing. It can be your whole life, or just about your current task or project.

For me, creativity is the most fun way I know to be share my life with people. To notice someone’s face lit up because of a performance is one of the greatest experiences I know.
When I feel creative, i feel outrageous, new and giving without fuzzing about it. I feel compassion but I am not sucked in by my own or others’ drama.
I want to know who I am and being curios, creative, perhaps like a child who sees something for the first time, is a great way to discover the mystery around us.

Most people I work with focus on how to do something without first having an understanding of why they do something. And what a waste of time that is.

What do I mean?
Well, I see many people want to be become rich, or famous, or a special artist. They don’t know why they want it. They just see some lack in their lives and believe that that ideal will solve all problems. I have had many students who want to sing in a special way, often an ideal they are not capable of doing. When they can’t do that, they often give up and feel miserable. Instead they could have focused on their own voice and why they want to sing at all. Without a real “why” you won’t have any reasons to go on.

I see many plays, projects, and concerts that are a waste of time. They might have all the money or the most talented people but it changes nothing.
This is because most people focus on “how” without a strong “why” as a foundation. You obviously need “how” eventually. But “how” is the second step.

If you have a hard time with your creativity, it is because you have skipped “why” and you are trying to do “how” as the first step.

“How”, is focusing on what costumes to have before the play is written. “How”, is focusing how many instruments and people in the band before the song is written.
“How”, is focusing on what would be the best movements in a dance peace before the meaning is clear.

“How” is not focusing on what you want to do, but how you think others will judge you.

Not having a “why” that makes sense to you will make you frustrated and stressed. When you are caught up in too many “hows” you are playing the game of your inner critic, trying to chase high ideals that are impossible to keep up with. In this case, you are not doing it because you enjoy it. You are doing it to please.
When we don’t trust our “whys”, or we have not really thought about them, we try to cover it up with “hows”. It is like building house with no foundation. It will easily fall apart and it has no real purpose.

What do you want to give?
When I help people realize their projects, the first thing I ask is, why or what do you want to say?
Most people don’t have a clue. They often have some vague philosophical idea that many times lead nowhere. You can hear people trying to cover up their lack of “why” when they start giving you some LONG strange explanation that is not applicable.

You take action automatically when you have a strong “why”. For example. I’m thirsty. I’m hungry. I’m broke. I’m in love. I need to pee. The direction is very clear in those cases.

It can be really simple
So, the reasons for writing anything, to do anything, do not have to be special. Actually, it is often better if it is simple.
An experienced artist is not trying to be special or clever. They have simple “whys” and “whats”. But because they have done it for a while, their “whys” have deepened.

You cannot force your depth. You can only work with the “why” or “what” you have. So start there. Actually, try it now:
Why do you want to be creative? Why do you want to give to the world? What makes you happy? What would you like to express more?

Why not create something really simple, fuelled with the same reasons used to answer the questions above?

You can also leave a comment why you want to be creative. It will inspiring for all of us.

Cheers!