From (about) a year ago... How to Stife Creativity
Lifehack posts some good thoughts on How to Stifle Your Creativity...
Be afraid. Be very afraid. There’s nothing like fear to put a stop to any kind of creativity: fear of getting it wrong; fear of what other people may say; fear of embarrassment; fear of change. The more afraid that you are, the less creative you will be—and the less you will act on any creative thoughts that manage to break through the curtain of anxiety.
Remind yourself of all the times that you failed in the past.
Keep them fresh in your mind. Dwell on them—the pain, the shame, the hurt, the way others sniggered. Let your imagination go to work and really re-live those cringe-making moments. That should stop you ever trying again.
Some others...
Never waste time. Stay constantly busy.
Always try to fit in.
Stick to what you know.
Always defer to authority.
Don’t ask stupid questions.
Leave thinking to the experts.
Keep it simple, stupid.
There's a good run down of each point here.
These are great reminders today as I begin sermon prep. I'm reminded of another way to stifle creativity that I read in the book, The Spark, which is a reporter's first hand account of the behind the scenes design of Cirque De Soleil.
According to the Cirque leaders, setting very clear and specific boundaries are critical to being creative.
Posted by: David Alexander | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 06:53 AM