How Contradictory Personality Traits Lead To Creativity

Kaizen Creativity: The Science of Creativity & Innovation

One of the most fascinating aspects of the creative personality is how often creative people have contradictory personality traits. Creative problem solving is incredibly difficult. There are so many moving pieces that it’s hard to know what to even try. This is why so much advice centers on shifting your perspective. Look at the problem from the top, then from the bottom, then from the inside. Each change in perspective is attempts to find a problem’s weak point. This is how it works when using creative techniques.

The creative personality already has a lot of this built in. For example, creative people tend to be very passionate about their work, but they’re still able to step back and be cold-hearted when its time to evaluate their work. The highly emotional mental state allows creative people to dive deep into their work, keeping them curious to try new ideas and explore the unknown. However, that love for your own work becomes a problem when it comes time to be objective. How will you customers feel about your new product? The passion you used to create the work cannot be used to evaluate it. You must embrace the opposite.

Another common contradiction among creative people is that they are bounce back and forth between being very humble and very proud of themselves. Being humble is a natural result of studying the great thinkers that have come before you. Isaac Newton was one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. Anyone who dives into his work and understands his creativity would be humbled by someone who was so incredibly far ahead of everyone else of his time. A reporter once asked Einstein how it felt to be the world’s smartest man. His reply was “I don’t know. You’d have to ask Nicola Tesla.” Studying the greats leads to a feeling of humbleness.

But creative people are a proud group as well. Not everyone can do what we do. We are the group that devotes their lives to expanding the lives of others. Think about how hard it would be to discuss culture without mentioning anything creative. Creativity has largely designed the culture we live in. The creative person recognizes and is inspired by this. They’re humbled by the amazing work of the people who have come before them, but proud that they are doing their best to continue their legacy.

These are just 2 of the many contradictions within the creative personality. In future episodes, we’ll discuss specific contradictions and how they affect creativity. For today, I think it’s important that you accept these contradictory aspects of your personality. It’s OK to be introverted when you want to get work done and it’s OK to switch to extroversion when you’re passionately talking about your work. It’s OK to be proud of your work, even before you’ve created a masterpiece. It’s OK to be humbled by those that have come before you. Acknowledging the greatness of others doesn’t diminish your own. Embracing each contradiction is like doubling the number of perspectives you can use to solve creative problems. Perhaps you need more knowledge. Curiosity can help. Perhaps you need to find closure on a project that never seems to end. Embracing your curiosity won’t take you there, but being closed-minded can. Each personalty trait is already inside you to varying degrees. There are times when you’re curious and times when you’re closed-minded. It isn’t about changing you, it’s about being the best part of you in each unique situation.

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