The big Why.
I had a client and mentor 15 years ago that left a huge impression in my life. His favorite question was WHY? He called it the Big Why and asking it was the cornerstone of his approach. What is this about? Why are we bothering at all?
So often we answer the little why but have no idea what the big why is. Because mom said so. Because I need the money. Because it’s what I was taught or even what I think without ever questioning it.
Why creativity?
What is creativity and what’s the value for me? Creativity is Creation, or the capacity to create. This is distinct from innovation or ingenuity which both mean a clever new application of something existing for additional benefit, usually financial. All are helpful, but true creativity is so fundamentally generative it effects everything it touches.
Essentially, creativity is life-force in action. To stop the flow of creativity, or life force is depression. When we contact our own creativity, we participate in the flow of life. It’s no wonder stifled creativity and depression are constant companions. Maybe creativity can be a better medicine than pharmaceuticals?
What does creativity feel like? People often describe it as exciting, engaging, gratifying, nourishing, even healing. It feels like good food!
There’s some interesting work being done by our friends at Theater Bay Area in quantifying the personal value of creativity, what is being called Intrinsic Impact. Turns out you can measure happiness and well being pretty effectively.
The good folks at Creatingconnection.org are also doing some interesting research that shows connection is the primary motivator for people to seek creativity. Connection with family, community, the world around and most especially the Self.
A person in touch with their own creative capacity is happier, healthier, more capable of achieving big goals in the world and participating in a healthy society. Developing our creativity tends to reduce our needs and increase our contributions in everything we touch. A creative person is a rich asset to their community locally and globally.
The Greater Good
The notion of human ingenuity being a powerful antidote to the problems of modern society is finally taking center stage. The World Economic Forum each year identifies the top 10 skills to thrive in the 4th industrial age that we are now entering.
Notice the shift in the importance of creativity from 10th in 2015 to 3rd in 2020. I also find it interesting that the top 2 skills, critical thinking and complex problem solving, are actually aspects of creativity also. It could be said that most of this top 10 list are aspects of creativity or improved by it.
Creativity doesn’t just get us better jobs, it gets us better health. We become contributors to life rather than dependents. The greatest compliment I ever received from a program participant was that through her work with NEI she learned to be a contributor rather than a taker.
When the energy of life flows, our physical bodies are healthier. This is the basic notion of biophysics and energy medicine. Organs function better, our minds are more awake, muscles are stronger, circulation better, emotions clearer and calmer. We experience healthy vigor as inspiration and joy and radiant health
Personally, I am more likely to support others that support me as well. Life supports that which supports life. Creativity is life-force in action. Use it however you like, whether its for very essential and personal reasons or for grandiose save-the-world kinds of things. Make yourself happy. It’s the engaging of it that matters and that’s exactly what NEI is here to help.
Transforming Lives
-We support the growth of people, both individuals and groups be it teams or communities
through creativity
-engage your own life-force!
in service to a beautiful new world
-Our growth, well being and happiness is a powerful contribution to a better planet at a crucial time in history.
We at NEI do that in several ways, through individual and group programs, professional consulting services, and research. Always pushing the limits of what’s possible and bringing the results back home to share.
Turns out you don’t have to choose between your own benefit and the greater good. What is healing for one is healing for all.
We also recognize that this is important to society in ways that doesn’t entirely fit inside the profit model. Life and our challenges on this planet aren’t that simple. In response, we are developing a hybrid model of philanthropy and fee for service that allows us to support people and life on Earth more strategically and efficiently than the traditional profit centric model allows for.
Through your participation and resource contributions, we can all have greater impact to people and the planet together and feel part of something larger than ourselves.