If you know me, you know that I am super creative. Ideas can come to me quickly and sometimes accidently. Not only do ideas come to me for myself, they come to me for others as well. My friends can attest to this. There have been times I’ve gotten a random idea for someone I know, and I immediately shared it with them. (I’ve stepped back from sharing unsolicited ideas. But listen… I believe in my friends so much that I just want all of them to be great!) Meanwhile, you get the idea…I have lots of ideas.
When asked to discuss my strengths and areas of development, I would always list being creative for both. It’s one of my strengths because it is literally an effortless attribute. It’s one of the areas I need to develop because…. So what? I’m creative….and… If I had a nickel for every creative idea that’s ever come to me, I’d be a billionaire. Therein lies the rub. The idea is not to just have a pile of ideas, there has to be follow through. Up until recently, I have been conflicted about whether my creativeness is a strength or something that might hold me back. It might surprise you to learn that Tyler Perry was a major source of this internal conflict.
I absolutely love Tyler Perry. His success story is what the American dream is all about. There are a few people’s influence who inspire me to listen to and (attempt to) execute the advice they give. Tyler Perry is one of those people. A few years ago, I came across a video clip of him explaining how he became successful, Follow One Course Until Successful / F.O.C.U.S. In this clip, he discusses how important it is to select one thing to concentrate on and to put all of your energy and resources into that one thing until that one thing reaches its full potential. The way I tried to F.O.C.U.S. and failed miserable. Not an epic fail. But my word, attempting to follow this process has been torture. Why? It’s because of the nature of who I am. I can’t control how ideas come to me. I was taking Tyler Perry’s advice quite literally, and it was giving me anxiety. I mean really Tyler, what am I supposed to do with all of the other ideas that come to me? I’m of the notion that ideas don’t come to me because I’m Sonya. I know that my ideas are gifts from God. I was following Tyler’s advice and yet feeling as if I was disappointing God. Yes; feeling like you’re letting God down will definitely give you anxiety.
Then, Tim Harford to the rescue. I came across one of his lectures posted to the Ted Talks Daily podcast. (I love a good podcast!) This lecture has literally inspired me once again to lean into my creativity. “A Powerful Way to Unleash Your Natural Creativity” (posted below for those who don’t listen to podcasts) confirms what I always wanted to be true, and that is that my creative nature is a strength not a weakness.
Harford argues that, “For an important kind of activity, doing two things at once-or three or even four- is exactly what we should be aiming for”. There is a pattern of behavior that is common amongst highly creative people. He named this pattern “slow-motion multitasking”. He describes slow-motion multitasking as “having multiple projects on the go at the same time, and you move backwards and forwards between topics as the mood takes you, or as the situation demands”. He uses Albert Einstein, Michael Crichton and Charles Darwin as examples of how slow-motion multitasking works. But he doesn’t stop there. He anticipates the need to share how to manage multiple projects.
He introduces a method by choreographer, Twlya Tharp. According to Tharp, “You have to be all things”, so working on different projects simultaneously is par for the course. Here’s her process. In order to manage multiple projects, Tharp gives each project a box and writes the name of the project on the side of the box. Then, she places in the box anything that provides a source of creative inspiration. For example, books, magazine clippings, DVDs, theater programs, etc. Then she writes, “The box means I never have to worry about forgetting”. This allows for a stress free organized way to move from project to project. Such a fluid way for a choreographer to organize ideas; moving from box to box seems like a dance.
I’m sold on slow-motion multitasking. Sorry Tyler. I’m going to go with Harford on this one. I’ve found that being all things, as Tharp suggest is the best way for me to have peace and to feel complete. So to answer the aforementioned rhetorical question I asked Tyler Perry: what am I supposed to do with all of the ideas that come to me? I’m putting them in a box. I’m going to let inspiration guide me as to what idea to work on. Most importantly, I will not feel guilty about being a creative. I’m going to move freely from box to box.
I want to encourage you to watch the lecture. I hope it provides as much inspiration for you to embrace all of who you are as it did for me. I’m getting my boxes together! Let’s continue to learn to celebrate our creativity, and embrace it as a strength. And as always, let’s press on together!