Creative People

Who are Creative People?

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Creative People Are

Creative People are too often unaware that they have a creative personality. That there are nature-given features to their personality that “hang together” with the other creatively-minded people in the population.  A creative personality comes with specific gifts, needs, and challenges. A creative personality includes the need to create, but it is much more than that. I have discovered, both as a Creative Person, and in my work with Creative People, the absolute imperative of understanding yourself as a creative person in order to live in a healthy way. I have discovered and experienced the limitlessness available to you when you are empowered by your creative personality. Sadly, more often, Creative People find themselves frustrated, silenced, marginalized, mainstreamed, unsatisfied and unhappy, never fully expressing, knowing or fulfilling their natural gifts. It is possible to live differently, using all your natural strengths. It starts with bravely giving yourself permission to do something different.

Living Creatively

 Living Creatively means a fully self-actualized life, in which you embrace the strengths of your creative personality.  It starts by understanding, and likely reconceptualizing, the things you have learned about yourself in a new and different way. It is giving yourself permission to feel and dream, to make bold and brave choices, to pursue authenticity and work hard.  It is taking the harder path at times, simply because it is worth it. It is learning what you need to thrive and putting in the time to make it so. It is watching your life flourish as you nurture yourself in the way you require.  Believe it or not, it is grounded in psychology and research (some of it my own) that goes back almost 100 years. Today, as our world changes so quickly around us, there was never a better time to commit to your own creative, authentic life.

Theories of Creativity

Creativity research is still in it’s early days- with its beginnings in the 1950s, and limited amounts of research since then (Kaufman and Sternberg, 2007).  Initially, a lot of Creativity research was done within the school system, focusing on education. Today, while the field is beginning to pick up speed, there are three traditionally recognized ways to think about Creativity: cognitive processes, social influences and personality theory (Sternberg, 1999). Cognitive processes theory says Creativity is about extraordinary creative processes creating extraordinary creative products. Social influences theory looks at creativity in terms of the availability of role models, resources, cultural diversity and zeitgeist. Personality theory views Creativity in terms of nonsocial and social personality trait combinations within the Creative Person.

Creative Personality

Personality Theory might be the most common theory of creativity. Through this lens, Creativity is a series of personality traits and features that have a higher prevalence in Creative People.  Some measured personality traits are: environmental sensitivity, initiative, self-strength, intellectuality, individuality, and artistry. Other researched personality traits of creative people include becoming easily bored, independence, passion, powerful emotions, ADHD symptoms and Creativity, meaning making, authenticity, open-minded, flexible, risk taking, and ambitious. Though creativity is usually viewed on a continuum, creativity tests can also be used to categorize a participant as either “creative” or “not creative” in a categorical way. The explanation for this is that creativity levels on a continuum produce qualitatively different displays of creativity. This is often described using the horse on a treadmill analysis. Speed increases on a continuum in terms of miles per hour on a treadmill. However, once the continuum of speed reaches a certain limit, the movement of the horse on the treadmill will become qualitatively different from a walk to a trot, a trot to a gallop, and so forth. In this way, creativity is both on a continuum and described in terms of qualitatively different stages such as creative and non-creative.

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Creative Mind

Many Creative People throughout their lives will present to the health or the mental health system for “treatment” of one of these personality traits.  They may be the “black sheep” pursuing their individuality, and family members worry  that they are “acting out.”  They might be feeling powerful emotions, and self-present to psychiatry to "control" them better.  The problem with this is, these Creative People are not supporting or recognizing their Creative Personality as a whole, thereby not giving themselves what they ultimately need. Your creative personality is powerful, and, when directed towards things like meaning making, authenticity, and pursuits that matter to you, the problematic places your passions have become “stuck,” can resolve. Knowing and recognizing your creative personality for what it is in its entirety, and supporting it as such,  is one of the two most important things you can do to keep your creative personality well.  The second most important thing you can do is, have a regular practice of creative expression. This is the single most important protective factor against distress for you in your life.  In other words- doing something creative is the most important healthy thing you can do to be well.  But for most of us- we were in some way discouraged against creative pursuits and told to be more mainstream or practical with our time. You can learn more about the practice of creativity, here.

Creative Artist

Kaufman and Sternberg (2007) define the four P’s model of creativity: Person, Product, Process and Press. In Creativity Coaching and Creativity Counseling, we are most focused on Kaufman and Sternberg’s Person and Process aspects of creativity:  Person in terms of the personality traits characteristic of creative individuals, and Process as the creative method and movement the individual uses to be creative. These two factors are the fundamental sources that you need to address, as a creative person, to be well. 

Creating Wellness

If you have identified yourself or begun to wonder if your personality is creative, that is wonderful!  You have a powerful set of characteristics with which to flourish.  Here at Creatively, you have found a wonderful place to get on track to do just that!  Here are some steps you can take right now, to start your journey as a healthy and successful Creative Person:

1. Take Online Courses in Creativity
   So you think you might have a creative personality, and are interested in learning more about creative practice, and the science of creativity?  Learn more, here!
2. Schedule a free Consultation
   All new clients at Creatively, LLC are guaranteed one free, 15-minute virtual consultation. You have access to my calendar here, to book your own, and I will see you soon, to discuss how to get started on your own life-changing journey!
3. Book a coaching Package
   Want to see a selection of pre-designed Creativity Coaching options? Choose from one of 3 options to get started today-reserve your full package of chosen services without delay!

References

Kaufman, J.C. & Sternberg, R.J. (2007). Creativity, Change, 55-58.
Sternberg, R. J. (1999). Handbook of Creativity. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Sawyer, R. K. (2006). Explaining creativity: The science of human innovation. New 
York: Oxford University Press Inc.
Scholastic Testing Service Inc. (1998). Khatena Torrance Creative Perception Inventory 
(KTCPI) [Psychometric Test]. Khatena, J. & E.P. Torrance: Authors

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