Creativity Central [Marty Baker]

There's a famous koan-like question:  What would you do if you knew you could not fail?  Surprisingly, most people struggle with this question.  Because once the desire is voiced, it begins a chorus of follow up questions. Somebody might say "I want to be a famous singer."  We'll how much time do want to spend away from your family?  You want to go on tour 300 days a year?  Do you want to do the early morning talk shows to promote the concert in every city?

When desire meets reality, people begin to ask more questions.  Ultimately, the desire may be more related to a psychological need for approval or a ego-inflating need for recognition.  It's a wonderful question for getting to the core of what you desire but it's a question with a dual personality. If there is no "failure" then you take challenge and risk out of the equation.  

Psychologists have consistently shown that achieving true satisfaction involves successfully overcoming a challenge or risk.  In one classic example, students who pledged a fraternity and experienced a more difficult path felt more satisfaction and loyalty when they were finally selected. 

Risk and challenge are always a part of the satisfaction equation.  Here's an idea inspired by Rob Bevan and Tim Wright.

• Draw a square grid
• Mark the left hand side as safe
• Mark the right hand side as dangerous
• Mark the bottom as serious
• Mark the top as silly
• Now position your creative ideas on the grid by marking a dot with a pencil
• Serious and safe ideas live somewhere in the bottom of the left corner

 
Here is an example I learned at a Creativity/Psychology conference in up-state New York.  I participated in a seminar about moving your boundaries.  During the session, we were all asked to do something totally ridiculous.  I enjoy being ridiculous so it was no problem for me.  But one woman, a guidance counselor, was unable to do anything silly.  She said she didn't see any value in it and it didn't reflect her buttoned up personality.  The leader worked with her in front of the group and she began to cry because she was never allowed to be silly in her family. Then, the leader said something to her that I could see had major impact.  He said, "if you can't be silly here how are you going to relate and guide students who are silly or humorous?"

What risks are you willing to take to become more creative in your life?

I think that many accomplished people are afraid of being amateurs again.  They avoid risk because it's uncomfortable.  But what if every mistake was applauded?  What if every failure was appreciated?  What would you do if you knew that your effort is what is valued and appreciated.

Happy risk taking.