The Yogi Berra Approach to Creativity
Creativity: it’s elusive, mysterious, and undefineable. Or is it? While I’m of the opinion that there are few shortcuts worth taking, I think I’ve found a shortcut to unlock creativity. It’s the same kind of philosophy I can imagine being espoused by Yogi Berra, the man famous for stating the obvious.
What’s the secret?
To unlock your creativity, you need to be creative.
Yep, that’s it. So what does it mean? It means that in order to get your creative juices flowing, you need to commit creative acts. These first attempts don’t need to be wonderful, or even particularly inspired. They just need to be committed.
By choosing to write that first sentence, paint that first stroke, or cook that first dinner, you’re opening your mind to being creative. Once you take that first step, don’t be surprised if the ideas suddenly start flowing. Before you know it, you’ll be having flashes in the shower, while you’re driving, and all manner of inconvenient moments.
Tapping into Your Creative Flow
This has certainly been the case with me. Once I started blogging, the ideas simply started flooding my mind. Where before there was observation and curiosity, there’s now a stream of ideas. Some are related to On Simplicity, some are inspired by what I’m currently seeing or hearing, and others seem to come from nowhere. Simply by walking up the stairs in a local historical site, a short story formed itself in my head.
Is this flow of ideas always available? Does beginning creative pursuits unlock the pre-existing creative riches of your mind? Or does the flow begin only when you commit to taking creative action? I couldn’t tell you. What I can tell that is that waiting for a masterpiece to spring from your mind, full grown like Athena is wishful thinking.
You can take action to foster and grow your creativity today by simply being creative. After all, “If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.”
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This post has 20 comments
July 22nd, 2008
Blogging is a sort of teaching. When you teach, your learn twice and create thrice. That is where creativity comes.
It’s my personal opinion. Do you agree with me?
July 22nd, 2008
Hi ProductivityScience,
I do think certain types of blogging are about teaching. For me, a lot of creativity comes simply from the commitment of pen to paper. And my creativity is definitely stirred up by reading other folks’ thoughts and responding, so there’s a kind of wave effect that comes with blogging.
I’d love it if you could explain your idea more. I’m not sure teaching is any more creative than other pursuits in my experience, but it certainly taps into a different kind of creativity.
July 22nd, 2008
Thank you for your answer, Sara!
I completely agree with you that creativity comes like a wave effect with blogging. As for me blogging on some theme that requires at least a bit of reading and self-development is very close to teaching because you want to share some useful information with others. And of course it is requires a lot of creativity to express your ideas.
July 22nd, 2008
So creativity begets creativity. I like it!
And I have to agree about the commitment part. Perhaps it is just due to the mind being more clear and focused rather than wavering whether or not to commit to something, although I think there is probably something more to it. Whatever it is, it does seem to work!
July 22nd, 2008
excellent advice for those who are trying to write the first sentence of a dissertation.
July 22nd, 2008
Good post and good comments (thus far ;)). As a “creative professional” (I work in an ad agency) I can definitely vouch for the “just get started” approach. If I sat around all day waiting for inspiration to strike…well…it wouldn’t.
Taking that first step and getting your mind working is essential, even if the first page or two you fill is garbage.
On the other hand, if you’re too focused and stressed on something there’s also value in stepping away from it an focusing on something else less intensive (movies are good) so your brain can roll it around in your subconscious.
July 22nd, 2008
“This has certainly been the case with me. Once I started blogging, the ideas simply started flooding my mind.” - Exactly what happened to me.
“To unlock your creativity, you need to be creative.” - Simple yet genius!
July 22nd, 2008
Great post Sara! It is true that once you start, even with the tiniest of steps, it becomes natural and flowing so easily. I am not naturally a creative person, but by taking small steps toward creativity, I have found my own way to be creative. The things I do aren’t perfect, but they’re real and they’re me. I wouldn’t have stumbled upon them without reaching out and trying things until I found ways to comfortably be creative while still being me. I’ll never sew a king sized quilt by hand, but I can do what is within my abilities and sew quilt blocks my hand and be creative with them in my own ways. Only by letting myself be imperfect and not do something well but still trying it and working on it, have I found that it doesn’t have to be magazine worthy to be creative and bring me joy.
July 22nd, 2008
“You need to be creative.”
It’s true! I used to spend hours staring at a blinking cursor in Word or a blank piece of paper in my notebook wondering when I’d get the inspiration to start writing. It took me years to realize that I just had to actually START and then it would get easier from there. Now I can start with a blank computer screen or piece of paper and have something wildly creative hammered out in a matter of hours. It’s a given that most of it isn’t very useful to others, but it’s fun to go back and read what my creative juices have produced.
July 22nd, 2008
The environment you work/live in has a lot to do with creative flow. I was just saying to the Urbane Lion last night, that my childhood environment was so creative (my mother is a textile artist/my dad a painter), but the first 23 of my adult life, sad to say, was stifling. But now, between the Lion and I, we have more ideas than we can handle! If ideas were physical ping pong balls, we’d be ducking left, right and centre *grin*
July 22nd, 2008
I think the best environment for creativity is achieved when the fear of failure is overcome. Overcoming the fear of failure to me includes getting started and fumbling around initially, working through the hurdles that nearly every task presents, and accepting the end result from your own perspective as well as any criticism (constructive and otherwise) that may come your way. There are times (actually many times) when I try to think through all the steps and anticipate all the possible hurdles before getting started. It’s necessary to a certain degree but it can also delay or nix a project before it gets off the ground due to “problems” perceived without really giving the project a chance.
July 22nd, 2008
well i’ve often wondered if you can teach someone to use their imagination or if creativity is something that can be taught or if people are just born that way. either you have it or you don’t? not sure i sit down and try to be creative, it’s just who i am..love the quote: To unlock your creativity, you need to be creative.
July 22nd, 2008
I think it’s like trying to get from A to Z in one jump. Great ideas (which are at point “Z”) don’t just appear magically in your head (at least that’s not the norm). Instead, something starts a train of thought, you write it down; then that leads to a different idea; then you modify the original idea a little bit; then you add something new; and so on; and in the end you have something you’re proud of, but you have to go through all the letters in the alphabet first.
July 22nd, 2008
@ProductivityScience: Oh, I definitely agree that it takes creativity to express your ideas–especially in writing!
@Kevin: I’m with you–it seems like it’s hard to be creative when you’re tentative and uncommitted. Maybe it’s about being willing to accept failure…
@NeimanMarxist: Good luck on the dissertation. And I love your name–talk about creativity!
@LivSimpl: You’re right–being able to step away is definitely another piece of the puzzle. Thanks for reminding us of that.
@Vered: I knew it couldn’t just be me! I bet you’re mind was swimming on your recent travels…
@Emily: The quilt analogy is a great one. All it takes is a few unique blocks, and all the sudden, you have the basis of an amazing quilt. And I bet the best parts of that quilt would be the accidents and flukes!
@Eric: Exactly! That’s exactly what I’m talking about.
@Urban Panther: Your childhood environment sounds wonderful! I’d have to agree that while our creativity doesn’t depend on the people around us, it can certainly be influenced by it. Having support can be so empowering–and I absolutely love the idea of zipping ping pong balls!
@Mark: Fear and overthinking have to be two of the biggest creativity killers. I like your idea that “fumbling” can be part of the process, not a deterrent.
@Natural: I think everyone’s got the potential to be creative, but that’s just my hunch. I’d wager that the people and environment you’re surrounded by can help you tap into the urges. Who knows, though? You seem to be a (wait for it…) natural.
@Marelisa: I think we can call that the Sesame Street Approach to Creativity. (Today’s awesome idea is brought to you by the letter ‘M’…) But seriously, I think you’ve got a great point about creativity being a process. The early fumbles (as Mark put it) aren’t road blocks, they’re building blocks.
July 22nd, 2008
The Sesame Street Approach to Creativity - I love that
July 23rd, 2008
Hi Sara,
Blogging has brought out a creativeness in me I never knew I had. Like you, I get ideas at the strangest times. Often just as I lay down for the night, I get a grand idea. I get up, go to the computer, and type (part) of my idea.
It’s an amazing process, isn’t it?
July 23rd, 2008
I saw a T-shirt for a writer’s conference that read “Writers write.” It’s obvious, but much like all creative pursuits, we have to actually DO it and not just think about it. (How nice it would be to author an award-winning novel…) Once we can get over that first hurdle of taking action, the rest seems to come more or less naturally.
July 23rd, 2008
It is so simple yet so hard to just get started. One of my main deterrents of being creative is over thinking. I tend to think that my idea has been perfected by someone else and it would be a waste of time to repeat. I learned that creativity means believing that you can do it and knowing that the end result feels like the greatest accomplishment. I know everytime I write on my blog my mind, my body and my thoughts sort of relax for a while. The flow and release of creative juices always makes me burp. That burp feels awesome everytime!
July 23rd, 2008
@Barbara: Oh, you’re good. Usually I’ll get the late-night idea, scribble a few words on a post-it and drift off. I’m impressed that you complete the thought right then and there.
@Laurie: That shirt says it all. Dreaming is wonderful, but taking action toward a dream feels just as amazing.
@Tiffany: You described the physical sensations well! I love the idea of a creative burp!
July 23rd, 2008
Sara did you happen to catch the interview with Yogi during the All-Star game? He shared that these amazingly obvious and clever quotes just naturally come out of his mouth without any intention on his part. He has a natural talent for stating the obvious.
I like this post because it’s brief and pointed and I think you are onto something. Sometime we need to just follow what Nike says and do it! This is one of those times. Thanks I’m going to remember this one.
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