Creativity – Why to Do What You Like

Creativity Killed the Capitalist

In a capitalist society like the US, there is little time for creativity. Time is usually divided between the things we must do and the things we like to do. The former usually consists of school, one’s career, paying bills, and otherwise taking care of oneself and one’s family. The things we like to do come second and are done to break the monotony of our need-based everyday lives. However, creativity is neither a need nor a want.

Creativity is our art. It is what we do to feel productive and happy. In a sense, it is a combination of work and play. It is not what you do to make money, nor is it what you do for fun, but it is a personal endeavor which consumes a lot of time that could otherwise be used for work or relaxation.

Capitalists understand that time equals money; therefore, we are taught not to “waste” time engaging in activities which have no intrinsic value. Those who decide to work within the system abandon creativity for marketable activities, and those who work outside the system usually go broke for spending time on creative projects. This situation is the root of the phrase “starving artist.”

Creativity Trumps Necessity

The colloquialism goes, “necessity is the mother of all invention.” I am inclined to replace “necessity” with “creativity” in this statement. It is need that causes people to find other ways to accomplish a goal; however, it is not until someone is creative that the problem is solved.

For example, the Wright brothers did not invent the airplane because they were commissioned to. They invented the plane because they were fascinated by the idea that man might be able to fly. I highly doubt that they would have perfected their flying machine if it were not a side-project.

The Wright brothers illustrate the fact that those who create for the sake of creating do much better work than those who create for money. Regardless of whether you enjoy your work or not, the fact that you are getting paid to do it causes it to lose some of its pleasure value. You become dependant on your work if you need more money, and you can therefore attach an amount of stress to what you do for work. Stress can make one more desperate to work, unlike creativity which is independent of financial success.

Additionally, when one works for money, they are expected to turn out a certain product: one that is marketable. When one works creatively, it doesn’t matter what the product looks like, so long as it does what it sets out to do. This takes a lot of the stress out of creating.

Create, Create, Create!

Whether your art is music, engineering, sculpture, or athletics, always leave yourself time to partake in creativity. Don’t stop yourself if you find yourself saying, “Why am I so caught up in this?” or “This is a waste of time.” Though it might not seem like much when you start, some of the most amazing human creations began with someone who decided not to worry about time or money.

Leisure should not be synonymous with “work break.” However, in this day and age, that is exactly the case for most professionals. Money should not be an end in itself. Do what moves you and the riches will find you. They may not come in the form of money, but never doubt their worth. In the end, most people agree that they would rather have been happy than comfortable. Strive for happiness. Be creative!