I never learned anything from a match that I won.
— Bobbie Jone, American Golfer
I came across this quote today in one of my old journals. It ties in with this article I read yesterday: Viewpoint: How creativity is helped by failure. The article reiterates what some of us have already known, but I loved the example of the ceramics class. The class was divided into two groups, one would be graded on the one piece that the student chose to present at the end of the class. The other group would be graded on the weight of all the pots, regardless of quality, the student produced. Needless to say,
The results were emphatic – the works of highest quality, the most beautiful and creative designs, were all produced by the group graded for quantity.
The students had been free to experiment and figure out what worked and what didn’t. And presumably they had less stress and a lot more fun. Sounds like a winning strategy to me!
December 21, 2015
I won’t be precious about it: In one area of my life I have – at least momentarily – failed comprehensively. And for that I cannot forgive myself.
Other than that “failure” does not feature in my vocabulary. The article you are referring to makes a false premise. The very act of “creating” is a “journey”. You start with an idea, you make sketches/drafts/prepare a canvas/whatever. And do remember, Jean, there is always my father’s Ablage 13, the wastepaper basket. Neither will any end result – in my opinion – ever be “perfect”. Ask a perfectionist – of whom a fair few feature in my life.
The article says: “Creativity is a journey that involves taking wrong turns along the way”. Correction: Creativity is a journey that involves taking turns along the way.” There is no such thing as a “wrong” turn. Ask Edison. He never took a wrong turn, he figured out one thousand ways a light bulb wasn’t going to work. HA, and allow me to indulge myself, the motor, the heart of creation, is VISION. Without vision you can’t even build a sandcastle never mind painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
U
I agree with you. That’s why in the title I put the word failure in quotes. Another Bobbie Jones quote, about golf, but also applies to life:
And remember my motto:
I like that Ursula – extracting “wrong” out of the journey in relationship to “turns…”
I have some of my best aha moments when I’ve wandered off the proposed pathway. I actually have a couple of pathways – often when thinking in one, I will find a way forth on the other – annoys me sometimes but makes for life to be interesting.
Sometimes when I really need to think through stoppage on the pathway – I take a bus hopping day out – and along the way aha moments arrive.
However, these last couple of outings of that nature has been for sheer enjoyment,not to solve or find a by way, as right now it’s my summer break time and one area that I usually work on over the summer, doesn’t need me…
I am going to try today to find a way to fix the “wire grid” that needs to be stabilized if I’m to even see if I can place the “blooms” in a pattern through it – I have had 3 phone calls from Mr Handyman – none of which has been about “actually doing it”!
For me the main thing is to think in terms of feedback rather than failure. And to not take ourselves too seriously.
I think that creativity is a highly over rated trait for the simple reason that everyone without exception must constantly keep creating something or the other just to exist on this planet. Having said that, winning and losing are also terms used from specific points of view and to generalise is to be only half right.
I, on the other hand, think creativity is highly underrated. I’ve known too many people who blame their upbringing when their life doesn’t go the way they would like. I’ve even heard some of them say they were “brainwashed” as children. They act the way they do because of their past rather than taking responsibility for their lives. I think in terms of a writing metaphor, our upbringing gave us a rough draft, something to start with. It’s up to us to do the editing. It’s a more creative attitude which doesn’t suit everyone, but which has brought me great joy.