We all have that moment. That moment when our creative spirit was crushed. We remember it so clearly, no matter how old we were. That moment when you did something with all your heart. When you were filled with joy or hope. And someone just shut it down with a look, a word, that unforgettable phrase. “You don’t plan on publishing those, do you?” “I guess someone might like those drawings.” “You can’t sing.” “Your too __________ to ____________. And at that moment that creative spark, all that spirit that gave you inner hope and joy got shoved down and stuck inside you.
The Death of Your Creativity
Well apparently, that moment when you felt your unique and beautiful creative genius die has a name. It is called creative mortification. Dr. Clay Drinko explains that, “Improvisation has a lot to teach us about shame and judgment and could serve as a model for stopping creative mortification in its tracks.” In his article, “Creative Mortification” published in Psychology Today, he discusses the death of creativity and offers three ways improv helps to restore it.
Stopping the Shame
You can find my complete thoughts about this topic in my article Combat Shame and Restore Your Voice with Improv. If you would like to learn more about improv, please visit my blog and website, oneruleimprov.com
