The Misconception

One of the common misconceptions about creativity is that it’s an innate talent. Many believe that you’re either born with it, or you’re not. This belief often leads people to assume that they can’t develop their creative abilities because they weren’t blessed with it from birth.

Another reason why this myth that creativity cannot be taught or learned has become popular is that there’s a lot of half-baked or poorly structured information on creativity littered around the internet that makes the subject of creativity appear more confusing and complicated.

My Personal Story on Why People Believe Creativity Cannot Be Taught

The story below will show you how I came to this conclusion. In the year 2018, I was invited to speak at a 2-day seminar tagged “Think outside the box”.

I went for this event and the outcome was so powerful that the memory remains fresh in my mind till this day.

During my research for this presentation, I made a profound observation. I noticed that there was a scarcity of information that could sufficiently explain what creativity truly meant. I wanted to grasp a solid understanding of the very fundamentals of creativity and how they can be harnessed intentionally.

However, the existing resources were either abstract, disorganized, confusing, or inadequate. The information available online at that time was either half-baked truth or well-baked ignorance. I also noticed another pain point in addition to the lack of reliable resources.

There was no packaged resource available to save interested seekers from wasting time on poorly structured free content online. This gap inspired me to create a solution. So, determined to find answers, I embarked on a personal journey of exploration, guided by the Spirit of God.

After delivering an exceptional presentation at the seminar, I kept researching and studying the subject of creativity. That year, I wrote a book to document some of the findings I had made titled “Unlocking Your Kingdom Creativity.” Two years after publishing that book, another one followed titled “4-D Thinking” or “Fourth Dimensional Thinking.”

Additional Resources:
1. What is 4th Dimensional Thinking? A Powerful Exposition
2. How to Build Wealth Through Creativity – 5 Strategies

Five years later I wrote another one titled “Ignite Your Creativity“. The idea behind this one is to help you transform your dormant ideas, skills, gifts and talents to tangible creations and profitable solutions.

I believe that many people are confused about whether creativity can be taught or learned because there’s not enough solid content that truly explains what creativity is all about on the internet. That is why there are many misconceptions around the subject of creativity. Some of the popular misconceptions have been demystified in this article here: What Creativity is Not – 7 Popular Myths about Creativity

If you would like to have a better understanding of what creativity is, read this: What is Creativity? My Powerful 7-Sided Definition.

The Truth About Creativity

The truth, however, is far more encouraging. Creativity is not a mystical gift that only a handful of individuals possess. Instead, it’s a skill, a mental muscle that can be exercised, strengthened, and developed over time. It’s a process that can be taught and learned, just like any other skill.

Two Compelling Answers on the Question – Can Creativity Be Taught or Learned?

Let’s explore three compelling facts that support the idea that creativity can indeed be taught and learned.

1. Creativity is a Skill

One of the most essential facts to grasp is that creativity is a skill. It’s not something magical or unattainable. Just like playing a musical instrument or mastering a sport, creativity can be cultivated with practice and dedication. The more you exercise your creative thinking, the stronger it becomes.

Consider the remarkable journey of Ben Carson, a renowned neurosurgeon, and an avid follower of Christ. In his early years, he faced challenges and was even labeled as a “dummy” during his fifth-grade education. However, Carson’s story took a dramatic turn as he embarked on a path of self-discovery and perseverance.

Through dedication, hard work, and a thirst for knowledge, Carson transformed himself from an underachieving student to a trailblazing medical professional. He defied the odds and shattered societal expectations by becoming the first black neurosurgeon to rise to the position of chief of pediatric neurosurgery at the young age of 33.

He went from being a “dummy” to being the man with gifted hands, capable of performing surgeries like separating conjoined twins.

How did he achieve this? He honed his creativity! Carson’s journey serves as a compelling example that creativity and success are not solely determined by initial talent or intelligence.

It is the willingness to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and continuously seek personal growth that paves the way for extraordinary achievements.

2. God Taught People how to Be Creative

Another important truth that further buttresses this point is that God taught creativity. “Why is that relevant to this discusion?” you may ask. It is important to know that God is the author of creativity. When God wanted to introduce Himself to humanity, the first attribute He showed to us was that He was Creative. How?

In the beginning God created…

In Genesis 1:1, the Bible tells us that God is creative. That was the very first attribute He displayed when He came on the scene. He then made you and I in His image and likeness (Gen 1:26). After doing that He activated and commisioned us to “be fruitful”.

That word also implies that God was imparting the ability to be productive when He spoke those words to them. Many people think that God was speaking about procreation when He said to “…be fruitful, multiply, repleneish the earth..” Well procreation is still included in the overaching concept of creativity. So, it becomes clear that man was created to create. However, man needs to be taught how to create for him to do so successfully.

For example, a baby is born with limbs to walk but that baby will never walk if he sees no one walking and is never taught to walk. The same goes for every skill you picked up as a child, it remained a potential and an innate capacity within you until, you got taught how to manifest talking, walking, eating, reading, writing, etc.

So who did God teach creativity to? You may wonder. God taught Noah, a man who had never built an ark before how to create one. He gave him the design, the pattern to follow, the instruments and materials to use, and even what measurements to use in building, making and manufacturing a large boat. Noah was able to pull it off without a degree in Engineering because God taught him. The same way God taught everyone who became great by building something or developing strategies to conquer nations in battles. If God taught them to be creative, it means creativity can be taught.

This shows that creativity can be taught and should be taught in schools. This begs the question, “why do school curriculums not teach the subject of creativity”? Most of them either do not know how to teach it, or do not believe that creativity can be taught or developed. So if you have ever asked “can creativity be taught in education”? I believe this article should have given you a very good insight into the answer.

If we believe that God is the ultimate creator, it’s worth noting that He has imparted the principles of creativity to the world. By understanding and harnessing these principles, we can tap into the spirit of creativity and apply it in various aspects of our lives.

It’s important to shatter the myth that only “naturally creative” individuals can thrive in this domain. Countless stories of individuals who initially struggled with creative thinking but eventually excelled should serve as inspiration. It demonstrates that even if you consider yourself a “creative novice,” you can learn to think and create in innovative ways.