How do you kill creativity?
Introduce fear.
Not the “run for your life” kind of fear.
The fear I am talking about is the slow-burn fear that creeps into your heart because of the result of uncertainty.
Like the fear you could lose your job. You may call this anxiety.
Technically, fear and anxiety are different. Fear is the reaction to an immediate threat. Anxiety is the response to an anticipated threat. Fear is now. Anxiety is future. Both may be fictitious but nevertheless very real.
And it is all in my head.
The reaction to both fear and anxiety is similar. You play it safe. Eliminate the risk. Avoid mistakes and…
….kill creativity, because creativity is filled with mistakes.
Fear chokes creativity. When in fear, I resort to that which is comfortable, i.e., my past. I go back to the past even when I know that past behavior wasn’t good for me. This is most easily seen as the reason why addictions of the past will return under stress.
Are you ready to let go of fear?
“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.” – John Lennon