Cultural Creativity Articles

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“What if we looked at the world as a design project – how might we begin to make it better?” – Bruce Mau

Design is not just aesthetics. It doesn’t exist for business, culture, or nature; business, culture, and nature exist because of it.

It’s not making stuff pretty. Design is solving problems and changing lives. Design is applying your creativity strategically. And because of new technological advances, our increased sharing of knowledge, and our ingenuity, it’s now possible to design everything.

And when I say everything, I mean it. I’m not just talking about your stuff, I’m not just talking about matter. I’m talking about You, your existence, I’m talking about designing meaning.

[tweetmeme] The biggest assumption each of us makes is to infer that everybody sees life the same way we do. It’s so hard to challenge the expectations we have of others, and accept that they do not think the way we think, feel the way we feel, judge the way we judge, and abuse the way we abuse. They are not us. We can’t even begin to pretend to know how anyone else feels.

This, I think, is why we have a fear of being ourselves around others. We think that everyone will judge us, victimize us, abuse us, and blame us, the same way we do to our Self. We believe we know how others see us. So, before they can have the chance to reject us, we reject our Self, and alter our behaviour.

Our assumptions set us up for suffering, yet we keep on making them, for this is easier than facing our fears, asking questions, and getting the clarification we really need.

photo credit: DerrickT

[tweetmeme] Have you heard of the B-Corp (a for-benefit corporation)? They’re companies who have voluntarily revised their bylaws to include social and ecological benefits in their definition of the shareholder value they deliver.

There’s over two hundred and fifty in Canada and the US today. Seventh Generation’s one. So is Yale School of Management.

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The cult of ‘creativity’.

I’ve had an issue with the word ‘creativity’ for a long time now. It intimidates me.

I feel like ‘creativity’ is put up on a pedestal. You’ve either ‘got it’ or you don’t.

I take issue with the message that some of us are truly creative, but that most of us aren’t.

‘Creativity’ kinda has an attitude.

The stigma around ‘creativity’ leads many of us to feel like we never create anything, for we feel we don’t emulate the high ideals of what ‘creativity’ is. We don’t see our creations as tour de forces, and we don’t think our talent is otherworldly, so we end up seeing ourselves as somehow less than creative.

I know I did for most of my life.

[tweetmeme] You’re already designing a life where you can express your beliefs and values in your work.

“What if we looked at the world as a design project – how might we begin to make it better?” – Bruce Mau

Try looking at your world more optimistically. Seek possibilities for improvement. Let yourself dream of ways to make it better. Be a designer of your world.

“Criticize By Creating” – Michelangelo

Ask Why? Ask the dumb questions. If the answers don’t work for you, opt out. ‘Should be’ and ‘suppose to’ aren’t reasons to do anything.

Do it your way. There’s nothing you ‘have to’ accept. This is the new economy and it’s puzzle pieces are just starting to take shape. Get off the trail and see where it take the world.

What is it that you have on loan?

Everything.

What is it that you have of value?

Yourself.

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How do you feel about this definition of happiness?

Happiness is felt when one is:

• engaging in satisfying work
• avoiding negative events and emotions
• feeling gratitude, forgiveness and optimism

Is happiness enough?

Not for Me. And I’d argue it’s not enough for You either. For our Innerpreneurial drive isn’t fueled by our lack of happiness and our desire to obtain it, rather it’s fueled by our desire for meaning.

A way to use Twitter authentically

[tweetmeme]John Miles of Too Much White Space has inspired me to be a more conscious Tweeter with his manifesto on using Twitter in a thoughtful way.
He wrote:

• I will thoughtfully compose all posts in a state of awareness and genuine goodwill for all beings.
• I will not feel compelled to post, just to post. Periods of silence on Twitter are beautiful – enjoy them until the next idea organically surfaces.
• I will only post thoughts to Twitter that have the potential to deeply enhance the well-being of others either by laughter, thoughtfulness or sparking of new and valuable ideas.

[tweetmeme] It’s fitting that the day my inner critic (aka The Vile Bitch Upstairs) is screaming I would mention an article I wrote about trusting my Self above all else. That’s easier said than done on days when She won’t shut up. I can barely hear my Self through Her noise.

Authenticity & Cultural Creativity

Laura Cococcia over at the Journal of Cultural Conversation asked me to reflect on the Cultural Creative values of: