As an INTJ on Meyers Briggs and an Enneagram 1, I find great comfort in (and can hide behind) competence and expertise. Developing such qualities is a good thing, and research shows that creativity does not depend on it. If you’ve let thinking you don’t have the right skills or knowledge to embark on the creative journey you longed for – drop that heavy backpack!
“We need to be willing to risk embarrassment, as silly questions, surround ourselves with people who don’t know what we are talking about. We need to leave behind the safety of our expertise. But sometimes that’s not enough: we need to leave behind everything.”1
As an anecdote to my perfectionism, I have a zen practice of doing things that I’m not particularly good at around people that are experts (eek! Embarrassing!). I play the music in an orchestra with real musicians. I built my own chicken coop with no previous carpentry skills. It is uncomfortable but helps me tap into doing things out of love, screwing up, not knowing, and moving forward. These are all qualities to embrace out of respect for the gift of being human. And it turns out; that it makes us more creative.
“Knowledge can be a subtle curse. When we learn about the world, we also learn all the reasons why the world cannot be changed. We get used to our failures and imperfections. We become numb to the possibilities of something new. The only way to remain creative over time – to note undone by our expertise – is to experiment with ignorance, to stare at things we don’t fully understand.”2
“The single most important facet of the entire movie industry [is that] nobody knows anything.” Because nobody, nobody – not now, not ever – knows the least goddam thing about what is or isn’t going to work at the box office.” – William Goldman screenwriter
If the lack of skill or knowledge has been holding you back from doing something you really want to do, initiate that first step of doing it now. You can find a book that will give you hints, call someone who is an expert, or watch a youtube video. Know your first efforts may be embarrassing or silly. Love that part! Keep at it. Over time, you’ll get there. And rejoice at the patience and persistence you are practicing along the way. Something magical is around the bend.
1 & 2 Imagine: How Creativity Works, Jonah Lehrer pgs 125- 135
