Cynicism is the death of creativity. It will kill an idea and a creative career faster and more completely than anything else.
By and large, creativity is a positive act, a force for good, and it challenges us to change, not least so that we can see the world in a different, hopefully more interesting way.
Creativity should encourage, enthuse, engage, and entertain.
Always remember an idea is a precious gift and easy to destroy. If you fall prey to cynicism, doubt and disbelief will soon infect your thinking and your work.
A cynic might sound smart, sometimes even witty, but rarely are they productive. So surround yourself with positivity and possibility. With people who challenge and question. And as soon as anyone resorts to cynicism, move on.
I like this quote by the American writer and satirist
H. L. Mencken:
A cynic is a man who,
when he smells flowers,
looks around for a coffin.
So be careful. Don’t surround yourself with people who want to bury your ideas.
‘Why’ is the most important word you’ll ever use.
Creativity is all about exploration and going where no one has gone before. Just like an explorer, you’re hoping to head into uncharted territories.
Asking ‘Why?’ is the key to starting that journey.
Now some people are going to find your asking ‘Why?’ all the time incredibly aggravating. Same as we all feel when a child asks ‘Why?’ again and again. You will even feel a little childish.
Keep asking the question.
The greatest creative people are great precisely because they hold on to a childlike simplicity and urge to question everything. This is sometimes referred to as creative ignorance, not just the rejection of accepted practices but a complete ignorance of them. It’s the creatives who challenge accepted ways of thinking, consciously or unconsciously, that end up making the very best work.
So ask ‘Why?’ of everyone and everything. With this one simple question you’ll be on the path to discovering an idea that challenges the world, an idea that gets everyone talking.