The Opposite of Creativity
Rick Rubin currently holds the top slot on my list of famous people I’d like to hang with for a day. We speak a similar language regarding creativity and artistry - especially as it relates to “resistance”, the mixing of the material and the mystical, and that creativity is not a skill. I’ve recently started his book, “The Creative Act: A Way of Being.” As expected, it is soul-sparking and thought-provoking. I highly recommend checking out his appearances on Rogan’s podcast here, Rich Roll’s here, and On Being here.
By its nature, creativity is elusive in both definition and discovery. But I will posit this definition: Creativity is the energy that produces something that did not exist before. This is the idea behind my mantra “Make shit you can’t Google.” Creativity’s spiritual essence means that it is not really a skill but it is definitely a practice. When in the zone, creativity is a regenerative, evolutionary life force - where we find ourselves in child-like wonder at the magnificence of it all.
“Living life as an artist is a practice.
You are either engaging in the practice
or you’re not.
It makes no sense to say you’re not good at it.
It’s like saying, “I’m not good at being a monk.”
You are either living as a monk or you’re not.
We tend to think of the artist’s work as the output.
The real work of the artist
is a way of being in the world.”
― Rick Rubin
Because creativity is sacral, I believe it is an eternal spring. I don’t believe it ever goes stale or stagnates. But the act of creating can certainly become stale and stagnate! If creativity is energy then it can be impacted by whatever we are experiencing as humans. For me, creativity is primarily choked off by weariness of mind and body and dark and negative thoughts.
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