You don't need to learn how to be creative.

We live in a world obsessed with self-improvement, we’ve all been guilty of it. There are courses, books, and workshops dedicated to teaching creativity, promising to unlock the artistic genius within you. And self-improvement materials are great in some situations but, you don’t need to learn how to be creative. You already are. Creativity is not a skill to be acquired - it’s a force that already exists within you.

As children, we instinctively create. We draw before we know the rules of perspective, we sing before understanding melody, and we tell stories before mastering language. Creativity is in our DNA, a fundamental part of human nature, what separates us from machine (and the rise of AI). The more we try to force it into a formula, the more we risk losing touch with the organic, rawness of imagination that naturally emerges when we let go.

Many courses claim to teach you how to be creative, but all they truly do is help you remember what your body and mind already know. When you don’t know how to do something, your body and mind will find a way. That improvisation, that adaptation, is creativity in action. In fact, some of the most unique artistic styles come from limitations. A musician who never learned traditional theory may develop an unconventional sound (think Billie Eilish and Finneas). A painter who lacks formal training may create an entirely new visual language. These “mistakes” and deviations from the norm become “artistic signatures”. There can be a lot of pressure in the “business of art” to sacrifice intuitive creation for “the next big blockbuster Kool-Aid movie” (please watch The Studio on AppleTV+) but that doesn’t mean there’s any restriction on using your free will to create what your heart desires to fulfill your soul.

We are vessels for creative ideas, conduits for inspiration that flows through us. The best artists, writers, and musicians often describe their work as something that moves through them, not something they control. They listen, they channel, they allow. It’s like when athletes are “in the zone”. Creativity isn’t about trying, it’s about trusting - stepping out of the way and letting the ideas find their way into the world through you.

So, the next time you feel like you need to learn how to be creative, remember: you already are. Let go of the pressure, forget the rules, and trust that whatever wants to come through you will find its way. Your creativity is already there, waiting for you to notice it. Remember - the world needs your art.