Maria Lisa Polegatto - January 11, 2024
The Relationship Between Creativity and Fear of Failure
Creativity can be thought of as being found in people with “creative genes” (Kelley & Kelley, 2013); however, all people have creative ability which is more than just thinking –it is doing creative things using your imagination for new findings (O’Brien, 2016). Kelley & Kelley (2013) suggest we need courage to get past the fear of failure and allow a creative boost for our “creative capacity”.
Photo credit: Canva
Many things can cause a fear of failure. In elementary school, I had a fear in playing baseball. I could run fast, throw good and catch but that did not stop my fear of failure when up to bat. Extrinsically we can be motivated by causes outside ourselves, such as fear of failure, but intrinsically we are motivated by “a sense of achievement” with essential ingredients of “play, passion, and purpose” (O’Brien, 2016). At the times in life I have been very passionate about an issue; my creativity flows without borders, and I have no fear of failure.
Sir Ken Robinson (Ted, 2007) suggests we are being steered toward making money instead of following our passions (Ted, 2007). People need different ways to learn, believe, grow, and design our thinking toward using our “gift of the human imagination” (Ted, 2007). We need to recapture our creativity by learning and sharing new skills and mindsets– we need to build bravery for creative capacity to innovate in the world, with “actions, goals and perceptions” (Kelley & Kelley, 2013).
We need to inspire youth to be creative to innovate new forms of economic activity for the health and renewal of natural resources; however, the reducing amount of time humanity spends connecting with nature (O’Brien, 2016) has a negative effect on creativity. Personally, I find being in nature using my senses allows my creativity to flow and reduces any fear of failure.
Belfry, Nova Scotia, Photo Credit: Maria Lisa Polegatto
Earth is at critical stages which requires creativity, innovation, and sustainability to overcome obstacles, including climate change (Earth Charter International, 2012). We need compassion, knowledge, and the courage to fail to find positive solutions so future generations can thrive (Earth Charter International, 2012) with a sense of personal environmental responsibility and greater commitment towards sustainable development (United Nations, 1992). We need to foster “well-being for all, forever” (O’Brien, 2016). Instead of fearing to fail, let us boost our creativity to innovate a sustainable future for all.
Further Resources
The Earth Charter
United Nations Conference on Environment & Development Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992 AGENDA 21
United Nations Conference on Environment & Development Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992 AGENDA 21
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References
Earth Charter International. (2012). The Earth Charter, Values and Principles for a Sustainable Future. YouTube. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhMtjZxzGZY.
Kelley, T., & Kelley, D. (2013). Introduction: The Heart of Innovation. In Creative Confidence (pp. 1–12). essay, William Collins.
O’Brien, C. (2016). Education for Sustainable Happiness and Well-Being (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315630946
TED. (2007). Do schools kill creativity? Microsoft Bing. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Sir%2Bken%2BRobinson%2Bdo%2Bschools%2Bkill%2Bcreativity&view=detail&mid=A4881F0A6DF6DD296BBDA4881F0A6DF6DD296BBD&FORM=VIRE.
United Nations. (1992). United Nations Conference on Environment & Development. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf
Kelley, T., & Kelley, D. (2013). Introduction: The Heart of Innovation. In Creative Confidence (pp. 1–12). essay, William Collins.
O’Brien, C. (2016). Education for Sustainable Happiness and Well-Being (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315630946
TED. (2007). Do schools kill creativity? Microsoft Bing. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Sir%2Bken%2BRobinson%2Bdo%2Bschools%2Bkill%2Bcreativity&view=detail&mid=A4881F0A6DF6DD296BBDA4881F0A6DF6DD296BBD&FORM=VIRE.
United Nations. (1992). United Nations Conference on Environment & Development. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf
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