We've Been Defining Creativity Wrong

Hey, hello there, friend!

If I asked you whether you're creative, what would you answer?

Most people immediately compare themselves to painters, musicians, writers, dancers, or designers. Some people proudly say yes, while others quickly respond, "Oh, I'm not creative at all."

I still haven't figured out whether those answers have really been thought through or if they're simply an automatic act of self-defense. Either way, I keep contemplating the idea that we've been defining creativity wrong all along.

I started questioning the definition of creativity a while back, when I first began researching the theme for my first book, Decoding the Flow. Back in 2019, I expected to write about flow states, but I ended up discovering something much bigger: the connection between the act of creating and the meaning of life itself.

That shift was so profound that I even started a podcast to explore this idea: that we're here to create, and that every act is an act of creation ~ not something reserved for talented artists alone. Of course, I do believe there are different levels of creative expression, but according to whom does creativity get to be labeled as good or bad?

Based on my research, creativity wears many hats. One idea I absolutely loved was the distinction researchers make between Big-C and little-c creativity.

Big-C creativity is what we usually celebrate: the inventions, masterpieces, and breakthroughs that shape history. It's the work of extraordinary artists, scientists, writers, and innovators.

little-c creativity, on the other hand, is much closer to home. It's the creativity we use every single day to solve problems, adapt, cook dinner with whatever is left in the fridge, decorate our homes, raise children, comfort a friend, or simply find a better way to do something.

I agree with the distinction, but I think creativity is even bigger than that.

I don't think creativity is only about making art or solving problems. I think creativity is the way we participate in life.

Beyond the research, I believe we're the ones who decide how creative our lives become ~ not based on the final result, but on the amount of presence we bring to each moment.

From getting dressed, to arranging things in the fridge, decorating our homes, choosing paintings... you name it.

The simplest definition of creativity is bringing something into existence that didn't exist before. That definition doesn't say what it has to be or what form it has to take, because it doesn't require one.

Living our lives the way we choose to live is our greatest creative power. Creative consciousness begins the moment we realize we have agency over what we're creating.

What if making conscious choices is the dial that turns that power up or down?

If you pay attention long enough, you start seeing creativity everywhere.

Let's say you go for a walk on the beach. You notice a parent teaching a child how to ride a bike. Then you look the other way and see different couples expressing affection in completely different ways. Someone loves everything colorful, someone else prefers clean whites, while another person happily wears polka dots all over their shirt.

When you move through your day choosing curiosity over judgment, you begin to feel inspired by almost everything. You start seeing creativity everywhere. From the design of supermarket bags to the way fruit is displayed to catch your attention... it's magic.

I believe creativity is the way we participate in life, not simply something we do.

And if you'd like to put your creative muscles to the test ~ or if you've ever dreamed of owning a painting created specifically for your story ~ I'm opening just three commission spots over the next two months.

For me, a commission has never been about matching a room. It's about translating a season of your life, your values, and your unique way of seeing the world into something you'll live with every day.

Send me an email to claim your spot.

If that speaks to you, I'd love to start that conversation.

Color Your Life ~

Drica