Why does creativity have such a bad rap?

Why do words like “artistry, innovation and creativity” sometimes make people uncomfortable? Here are three of the most popular causes.

1. Because creativity often means burning down the existing status quo or your old way of being. Humans are genetically programmed to resist change, even if the change looks like it will be good for you. It’s a default mechanism to ensure stability and it’s there for good reason. But eventually all things need to be reinvented, upgraded, or let go of whether it’s an idea, a piece of clothing, a business or a way of being. Knowing when and how to bring about the change can seem like a daunting task.

2. There are other more nefarious reasons, as well, why creativity gets a bad rap. Sometimes people use creativity or innovation for low integrity ends, as we witnessed in the story or Enron or the Nazi regime. History is full of stories of innovative ideas that caused untold amounts of grief and destruction.

3. A third reason creativity has a bad rap is that some people use creativity for creativity’s sake. They choose to do something different without thinking about its’ relevancy in the bigger picture. This, too, can cause destruction, loss of productivity and frustration

Learning when and where to use creativity and innovation takes wisdom and courage.

Here an interview with Carla Rieger on the Fanny Kiefer show talking about her latest novel, The Change Artist, in which she explores the themes of creativity, change and integrity in a compelling story form.

Carla Rieger will be doing a free event open to the public on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 (7:30 pm) at the Vancouver Public Library. It is an author reading on her new book, The Change Artist.