FREE online courses on Introduction to Creative Thinking - Negative Attitudes That Block Creativity - What will people think

 

There is strong social pressure to conform and to be ordinary and not creative.

 

Here are some overheard examples:

 

Creative Person: "I like to put water in my orange juice so it's less sweet."

Ordinary Person: "You're weird, you know?"

Ordinary Person: "What are you doing?"

Creative Person: "We're painting our mailbox."

Ordinary Person: "You're crazy."

Creative Person: "Why don't we add a little garlic?"

Ordinary Person: "Because the recipe doesn't call for garlic."

Ordinary Person: "Why are you going this way? It's longer."

Creative Person: "Because I like the drive."

Ordinary Person: "Did anyone ever tell you you're strange?"

 

The constant emphasis we see in society is toward the ruthlessly practical and conformist. Even the wild fashions, from those in Vogue to punk rock, are narrowly defined, and to deviate from them is considered wrong or ridiculous. Some peoples' herd instinct is so strong that they make sheep look like radical individualists.

 

So, what will people think? Well, they're already talking about you, saying that your nose is too big or your shoes are funny or you date weird people. So, since others are going to talk about you in unflattering ways anyway, you might as well relax and let your creativity and individualism flow.

 

Almost every famous contributor to the betterment of civilization was ridiculed and sometimes even jailed. Think about Galileo. And look what happened to Jesus. Quotation: "Progress is made only by those who are strong enough to endure being laughed at." Solutions are often new ideas, and new ideas, being strange, are usually greeted with laughter, contempt, or both. That's just a fact of life, so make up your mind not to let it bother you. Ridicule should be viewed as a badge of real innovative thinking.