Summary

The article "Creativity Begins With 'Oh, Snap!'" explores the unexpected role of frustration in sparking creativity, using personal anecdotes and historical examples to illustrate how limitations can lead to innovative solutions.

Abstract

The article discusses the concept of creativity, traditionally defined as the use of imagination or original ideas to create something. It suggests that frustration, often seen as a negative emotion, can paradoxically lead to heightened creativity. This is exemplified by the author's personal experience in taekwondo, where an injury forced them to find creative ways to organize an event, and by the story of musician Keith Jarrett, who delivered an exceptional performance despite an unplayable piano. The article concludes that embracing and working through challenges, whether it's an injury or a seemingly insurmountable problem, can transform a moment of frustration into one of creative breakthrough.

Opinions

The author believes that creativity can be stimulated by spending time alone, listening to classical music, seeking new experiences, or even taking a walk.
Frustration is presented as a catalyst for creativity, with the author suggesting that it can push individuals to find innovative solutions to problems.
The author emphasizes the importance of perseverance and adaptability in the face of obstacles, as demonstrated by their own experience with a taekwondo injury and Keith Jarrett's suboptimal piano.
The article hints at the idea that limitations, such as physical injuries or faulty equipment, can actually enhance rather than hinder creative expression.
It is implied that the creative process often involves overcoming initial feelings of disappointment and resignation, as articulated by artist Flash Rosenberg.
The article suggests that personal challenges, when approached with a problem-solving mindset, can lead to the discovery of new methods, techniques, and approaches, ultimately enriching the creative output.

Creativity Begins With “Oh, Snap!”

Can frustration lead to creativity?

The Oxford Dictionary defines creativity as “The use of imagination or original ideas to create something”

Whether it’s about doing the chores at home with the least effort or dealing with a pandemic, we all need creativity.

Research suggests different ways to be more creative. You can spend time alone, listen to some classical music, open yourself up to new experiences or even go for a walk when you want to come up with something creative. But there’s one method which is slightly different, but really really effective. To illustrate that, allow me to take you back a few years ago.

I stood at the entrance to the university gym, wondering whether I had come to the right place.”What am I doing here?”

To my right badminton rackets smashing like thunder… To my left ping pong balls bouncing in rhythm…Sportsmen and women buzzing around like busy bees. Energy, excitement and enthusiasm electrifying the air and I told myself “Oh snap! I hope I don’t make a mess of myself”

Don’t we all feel a bit jittery on the very first day of trying out something new? As I stood there, I remembered Jack Canfield who once said: “Everything you want is on the other side of fear”.

So I walked to the other side - of the gym.

Then I spotted them- white angelic robes, swift kicks and intense looks on their faces: the taekwondo team!

And thus started my very first day at taekwondo.

Things went on well for a couple of weeks until one day when we were practising a particularly difficult kick.

I gathered all my strength, took a deep breath, and kicked- certain that I’d have my opponent on the moon. But the very next moment, he was not on the moon; but I was on the ground with a piercing pain in my ankle. Oh, snap!

The next day, a doctor looked at the X-ray and then my leg. X-ray, leg, X-ray-leg. “I’m afraid we will have to put a thick bandage around your ankle to ease the swelling. You’ll have to be very careful about your leg for at least for 3 months!”

“Oh, snap! Doctor, I have an event coming up soon! I am one of the main organizers. How can I organize an event if I cannot run around?”

He just shrugged.

With time, I realized that I did not have to run around. With a lot of delegation, planning and help from my colleagues, I did manage to make the event happen. I learned ways to not walk too much or give too much strain to my leg. Taking a bath without wetting the bandage was a nightmare — but I found some creative ways to get around that.

And I realized that feeling like a glorious mess makes me more creative!

The author in 2016 — bandages and all! It didn’t stop me from enjoying the traditional New Year celebrations

I’m not the only one who says this.

In 1975, the American musician Keith Jarrett stood utterly frustrated in front of the Cologne Opera House piano. He was tired. He hadn’t had enough sleep. To top it all, the piano was a glorious mess. The high notes shrieked. The low notes didn’t have enough volume and the pedals didn’t work at all.

“Oh snap! I can’t do this”

“But please Mr. Jarrett, 1400 people will be here to watch you.”

And a few hours later, Jarrett sat at that unplayable piano and went on to make the best use of the keys that were a little bit better than the rest. The recording turned out to be the best-selling piano album in history and the best-selling solo jazz album in history.

Being surrounded by a glorious mess made Jarrett more creative.

As the artist Flash Rosenberg says,

“Feeling frustrated is an essential part of the creative process. Before we can find the answer — before we can even know the question — we must be immersed in disappointment, convinced that a solution is beyond our reach”

The only question is, to be more creative,

Are you willing to work your way around that injury which landed you on the ground?

To play that unplayable piano?

To solve that problem which drives you nuts?

Because it might just be the way to turn your “oh snap!” to an “Oh wow!”

I had this story in my archive but didn’t think it would be good to be published. Thanks to Alexandru Văsâi for mentioning in a comment that we could “have fun and learn from your experience in martial arts”. This one is for you!