Spark Creativity - and Keep It, Too
Last month, Sam Goldstein argued in Psychology Today that creativity should be recognized as a uniquely human form of intelligence. Machines aren’t yet creative actors. And humanity’s most crucial aim at this pivotal moment, Goldstein suggests, should be to spark creativity.
While the rise of AI has revealed the power of machines to perform tasks and amalgamate data, machine learning relies on borrowed ideas. People continue to be the ultimate innovators. Instead of fearing the consequences of technological advances, Goldstein offers another path forward: to fully harness our creative potential.
“Creativity is the new frontier of intelligence, driving innovation, adaptability, and process,” Goldstein writes. “We unlock human potential to tackle modern challenges by redefining intelligence to prioritize creativity.”
However, we have to define creativity before we can harness it. Goldstein doesn’t limit his definition of creativity to artistic expression. Instead, he expands the concept to include synthesizing information, adaptability, and complex problem-solving. While Goldstein offers general tips on how to promote creativity, particularly in schools and the workplace, he provides little guidance on how to overcome creative blocks.
For me, that’s where Nora Ephron comes in.
With this week’s news of a Super Bowl commercial referencing the iconic When Harry Met Sally diner scene, fans have been split on the appropriateness of repurposing a beloved film to sell mayonnaise. Personally, I love witnessing any reunion between Meg and Billy - and I welcome the opportunity to appreciate one of my favorite writers all over again. I’ll absolutely have what she’s having.
Perhaps we remember Ephron now most for her seminal films, such as Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, but she was a prolific journalist long before her words found a home on the silver screen. She worked, created, and - reportedly - “ate lunch” constantly. Her professional life revolved around creative expression. Ephron recognized the moment when the creative spark found her - and when it failed her.
When she was asked for advice on how to overcome writer’s block, her responses make two things clear. First, she accepted that creativity comes in waves. The creative state is inherently inconsistent.
Secondly, she worked her way back to a state of creative inspiration. I admire her sleight of hand here. In giving herself permission to “not-write,” she removed any self-imposed, fear-based pressure to create. Essentially, she faked herself out. Her state of “not-writing” is actually another form of “brainstorming.” It’s the act of making notes. It’s dabbling in preliminary research. It’s reaching out to others to collaborate. Ephron described the free-wheeling, playful state where our best ideas are generated, a welcome reminder that waves must ebb before they can flow.
I’ve since taken Ephron’s time-tested ideas to heart. When I’m blocked, I pause and remind myself that this isn’t the first time I’ve maneuvered myself out of quicksand. Then, even while my hand is scribbling notes and I’m conducting research, I tell myself I’m not doing anything. After some time invested in “not-writing,” I’ve invariably created something new. I find myself flowing again before too long, often with a solid foothold in a new project.
Goldstein makes a powerful point in suggesting that humanity’s creativity offers a way to counter AI’s technological dominance. However, creativity’s inherent arbitrariness - that impish, ambiguous quality that machine learning can’t yet touch - makes it an unreliable co-worker. Ephron offers a practical work-around to that fear. Do nothing well for long enough, and you might have something to show for it.
Creativity might be a uniquely human attribute, but overcoming our uniquely human fear of creating? That’s the real flex.
