Via the wonder of the internet, I came across literally hundreds of quotes about creativity.
Common themes?
Not being afraid to fail
Being curious
Having head space and freedom to dream/daydream/think
Choosing to see things differently
How common self doubt and lack of self belief are.
Comparison with the wrong mirror – and the importance of comparing yourself with what is realistic, not what is perfect.
Non conforming – not yielding to trends and other peoples’ ways of doing things or expectations
These stand out as being revolutionary if we choose to live by them:
The field of creativity that exists within each individual is freed by moving out of ideas of wrong-doing or right doing.” – Angeles Arrien, cultural anthropologist
And similarly,
Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it” – Salvador Dali
When we get over the idea that we have to be perfect, or do whatever it is perfectly otherwise we have failed in some way – or worse, we are failures – we are free to take more risks.
I got it wrong – well, says who? Who is that voice? Who are you comparing yourself to?
There is no-one who is perfect on this earth. When we stop measuring ourselves by impossible standards, be it those of someone we admire or aspire to be, or our own internal critics, and accept ourselves for our own unique brand of imperfect human, we can try and not be as afraid to fail.
Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” E. E. Cummings