Creative potential is to potential energy as creative output is to kinetic energy.
I feel strongly that everyone has potential in them to be creative in some form — “creative potential”. When someone creates something, the potential is released into some kind of output — “creative output”. (This applies even to ephemeral creativity like a live performance.)
Just like how electric potential energy (voltage) is converted to tremendous kinetic energy (current) with lightning, or via a short in a circuit, creative potential can be violently converted into creative output when the conditions are right (a “channel”). Another name for this process is “creative flow”.
The trick is finding the right conditions for a person to unleash their creative potential. The space of environmental conditions is vast with infinite parameters, including:
- Art form
- Instruments available
- Time & place
- Solo or with others
While I firmly believe people can discover their medium at any age, I think it’s important to focus on finding at least one pre-adulthood. Unfortunately after that point I think people lose confidence in themselves and resign themselves as “uncreative”, which can be a tough hurdle to get over.
I’m happy to say I’ve personally, finally found a channel for my writing practice, right here on this blog. More on that here.