The Creative Curse

Last week, I attended a lecture by the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert. The book uses the author's true gift of storytelling to relate her year-long journey to recover from divorce and find her true love. Gilbert's writing is irreverent, humorous, touching – everything I love my writing clients to emulate.

In her speech, Gilbert talked at length about what has happened to our view of creativity and using one's genius based on societal and cultural changes since the Renaissance. Because I've been writing and coaching about the topic of creativity for years (see A Guide to Getting It: Creative Intelligence), she had my complete attention.

The creative curse is the term I use to describe the social belief that being creative is a bad thing, that being a creative will not earn you the money, status, or ease of life that you would have if you just settled for a secure job. By placing this belief on children, by discouraging it in yourself, you are denying the world your genius. By not using your genius, you are saying to God, "I don't trust that what you had intended for me is right."

So, tap into your creative genius, learn how to explore what that looks like in your life. Move beyond the belief that being creative is a curse. You'll be amazed at the changes you'll see in your life when you do.