Creativity without competition is a key to happiness

Share

By: Kathleen Schafer, Founding Principle-Leadership Connection

What I have learned so far, is that Creation is a common experience that everybody is sharing, yet it speaks individually to every single soul.  That’s the genius of it.  –Jim Carrey

People often tend to view comedians, athletes and rock stars as those lucky few who get to use their creativity as the cornerstone of their careers.  And what a wonderful way to do it, on big stages, in front of admiring crowds earning millions of dollars?!  The problem, as is evidenced by the rejected contestant on any number of reality shows, is that we have come to believe that if we are not “the best” or “number one” our creativity is worthless; forcing people to find other ways to earn incomes and live lives that are less than optimal.

As Jim Carrey touched on, each one of us has something about which we are passionate and we have a collection of talents and skills that combine to make us unique.  Yes, unique–there is something that each person has within himself or herself to create and give to the world that no other person can.  In other words, you have something to offer that without you doing it, would simply not exist in the world.

By this point in a coaching session, the client starts to protest . . . “everyone can __________ (write a book, create an event, give speech, cook, paint . . .)” and I say, “Yes, AND only YOU can do it YOUR way, based on your experiences, your point-of-view, and with your talents.  And guess what . . . you don’t have to be the “best” at it to succeed.  While competition is fun and a hallmark of our society, it has turned into a reason why people don’t even try.

What is the best, anyway?  Who gets to decide?  A few judges? A fraction of a second on clock?  The person who scored the last shot, in the last game between two essentially equal teams?  If we savor the journey and the joy of walking down the path, what difference does it make who “wins” in just one moment.  Sure it feels great for the moment, and like everything in our lives, in a moment it is gone and the next journey has begun. Learning to be present and live in the creativity of the journey we will create more winning moments.

We all share the ability to experience joy when we allow our creativity and passion to come through–that is one of the greatest traits that make us human.  What too many of us have failed to do is to allow ourselves to express that creativity as an intergral part of our lives.  Today, think about what brings that feeling of sheer pleasure to you. What is it that you love to create?  What have you been hiding?  And isn’t it time that you allowed yourself to create a life and career that allows you to bring that joy into the world?