“Creativity is a process of discovery. It’s worth the risk. Dream. Dare. Jump.”
– John Paul Caponigro (artist/photographer)
Interestingly, John Paul wrote this at the END of a list of fears that creative people may face. Allowing oneself to express creativity is commonly risky. Some folks may fear failure while other folks may fear changes inherent in success.
Just a few from John Paul’s list ( CreativeFearsList )
- You’re afraid you’ll be called uninspired.
- You’re afraid what you do won’t matter to anyone.
- You’re afraid the reward you receive won’t be worth the financial investment you make.
- You’re afraid that when compared with someone else’s creation your creation will seem insignificant.
As creatives, we endure a tension between two competing forces. On one hand, we must dance to our own tune (sing your own song), regardless of whether it achieves mass appeal. On the other hand, art should communicate something to others, so we need to be concerned with the impact of our work upon other people.
If you believe that your creative spark is a gift from above, from the divine, then you should engage and pursue it. That does not mean you should pursue it recklessly. (Don’t quit your day job just yet.) But as each person seeks validation – is my work good or a waste of time? – the first place to seek an answer is from your divine source.
Creatives are commonly at a disadvantage because our initial motivation is not strongly connected to capitalistic success. We’re creative because we just are. In the words of musician John Lee Hooker, “You’ve got to let that boy boogie woogie, ’cause it’s in him and it has to come out.”
If the thought of NOT pursuing your creative passion feels like misery … then definitely pursue it. Yes, “it’s worth the risk. Dream. Dare. Jump.”