To be or not to be: Creativity as a choice, a skill, and a gift

What does it mean to be creative? 

Or rather — when can we consider one as a creative person? 

The topic of creativity is a multi-layered spectrum but for this piece I’ll probably touch on two forms: creativity as a gift and creativity as a skill. 

Our formative years in school would teach us the anatomy of being right-brained versus left-brained as a suggestive approach to discern if we are more inclined towards the artistic, creative side or the analytical, methodical side. 

Talk about early profiling and segmentation. 

Growing up, it is more common to be exposed to the traditional definition of being creative wherein it manifests as a natural, effortless gift the person embodies. 

You know one when you see one, 

you know one when you converse with one.  

Their whole disposition and aura is unique, 

their form of expression is sublime,

their thought process is a dime a dozen.

Simply put, being creative can come naturally for others.

And oftentimes, this form of creativity begs to be coupled with a concrete output in order to prove or claim the existence of that gift. This is where artistic occupations or roles come in such as being a painter, poet, dancer, or artist; to name a few. 

Undoubtedly being creative comes with the pressure to showcase that gift through an art form; whether it be visual, verbal, or performative.  

But time will tell that gifts, if unnurtured and uncared for, can sometimes just be one-offs. 

And this is where the second form comes in — creativity as a skill. 

As you read this you may think that it’s only intrinsic that I would consider myself as a creative. 

But I would beg to disagree that writing appeared to me firstly as a skill then eventually as a gift. 

Writing was something I learned until I recognized that there was indeed an innate gift that I had to hone and had the responsibility to actualize myself. 

In that sense creativity can be learned. 

But the truth is, not all creatives are made equal.

Most have to put in the work to push the skill to get into a flow or active state while some can simply utilize it easily even if the skill was in an already dormant state. 

Nonetheless, the journey is unique to each person. Though creatives are meant to cross paths, the only competition is oneself because we are never in the same playing field with the rest, no matter the individual upskilling. 

Creativity is a whole spectrum and is never linear. 

Being creative isn’t just tied to what you do or what you produce, nor is it limited solely to the way you think or feel. 

Creativity stands as the cumulative force that brings you to who you are at present along with the consistent work you put to stay true to that person. 

It is the self-recognition that you are equally human, just like the rest. A little bit different, a lot more peculiar.

With thoughts marked by coherence, oftentimes a chaotic harmony.  

A feeling marked by isolation some days, maybe even loneliness.  

However you choose to see your creativity as, whether as a gift you’ve always had or a skill that you yearn to inch closer, know that creativity thirsts for reciprocation.

To recognize your own creativity is to embrace the process that is uniquely made for you. 

And to take charge of that creativity is the person’s ability to transform; time and time again; to understand the craft as a means to understand oneself.