Creativity vs Productivity

 Human beings are creative by nature-- so why do most institutions 'beat' it out of us?

Well my faithful followers, it was another early morning in my world, however I am happy to say that this morning has gone significantly smoother than Mondays fiasco!

I have been re-reading (...or reviewing) It's Not About Time by Pavelka for the class I G.A. for and today we completed one of my favourite chapters, "Finding Creative Outlets". To be clear, when I am talking about creativity I am not only talking about artistic, and musical creativity but thought creativity.

Go back and look at your kindergarden report cards (I can almost guarantee your parents have them somewhere...). A large portion of the items on the report card will have to do about creative outlooks, activities, ect.  And then we hit grade one...creativity exits, and productivity is introduced. Continue through high school...and we get accepted to college or university based on our grades. Welcome to post-secondary education where your professors expect you to be able to think, and be creative.

WAIT WHAT?

Did my entire education not just teach me to memorize, regurgitate, and NOW you want me to be creative? In my personal opinion, we as student, cannot be blamed for not initially succeeding in post-secondary class rooms. We have been taught to behave one way, and are now expected to behave in a different way. Granted, not all classrooms or school operate on this basis, but my point is even more validated by our careers. After we graduate, we then take jobs where in some instances, we NEED to be creative, and original, yet all we know is what textbooks and professors lecturing at us have taught us.

Take it out of the education system and into the sport system. Formal vs Informal sport experience. Formal sport teaches us to behave in certain ways when we receive a perfect pass, or which way to run when we are trying to get around a defensemen. Most of these 'skills' we learn in a controlled practice setting, remove the control and the majority of participants cannot accurately assess and make an on the fly decision. If we allow people the opportunities to explore informal sporting experiences they will be better equipped to handle game time situations. (When talking about informal sporting experiences in this setting I mean random [UNORGANIZED] games of pick up soccer, hockey, baseball, ect.).

The moral of the story is, start thinking for yourself. Stop listening to what people tell you, you should do and do whatever you want. Spend some time disconnected in creative thinking mode. Paint, draw, write, read, just do it!