Whether they’re writers, artists or engineers, creative people love what they do. They may get into arguments with their parents over the importance of “real jobs,” but creatives know that working in an area they care about is more than a real job — it’s a calling.
The way we think of creativity is rooted in our school systems. They’re designed, arguably, to standardize human beings so that they can be inputs into other systems (like standardized business processes, or a bureaucracy). Creative people have a hard time fitting into these structures. They can make it work if they’re willing to do the dirty work of changing themselves, but that’s an enormous effort and sacrifice that squanders their natural energy.
Creative people are open to new experiences, emotions, sensations, and ideas — but this isn’t the same as being distracted or overwhelmed by them. They are able to block out their surroundings and focus intensely when they need to do their work. This is why they’re often seen as a bit odd. They can seem extroverted during a performance or when they’re focused on something, but off the stage they could just as easily come across as introverted.
It’s important for creative people to feel free to express their own unique thoughts — even if they seem strange, or nonsensical, or unrelated to the rest of their field of knowledge. This is a critical part of their ability to generate fresh ideas. They also take criticism seriously, recognizing that their own ideas could be improved upon by someone else’s point of view.
Creativity can be an exhausting endeavor, so it’s essential for these individuals to rest and recharge frequently. They don’t follow the schedules of their coworkers, and they rarely keep normal office hours. They may have a lot of energy, but they’re able to focus that energy when it’s needed, and recharge with quiet and solitude when they don’t.
Many creative people have had some form of traumatic experience in their lives, but they use this to help them grow as artists and individuals. They’re able to turn their discontent with the world into a powerful motivation for pursuing their passions.
While these traits make creatives incredibly valuable, they can also be difficult for others to understand and accept. This is probably why so many of them will present to psychiatry at some point in their lives. They might be the black sheep of their family pursuing an unpopular career, or they might be feeling powerful emotions that are beyond their control. Regardless of the specific symptoms, these people are aware that there’s something wrong with their environment, and they want to fix it. They just need a little help in the process.