The Power of Play
When was the last time you made something just for fun or for the joy of creation? If it’s been a while, no sweat, it’s easy to get caught up in a routine. Over time I discovered that creativity needs room to breathe, just like we do. Suppose you can think back to when you first started your craft. Do you remember the excitement? When you approached a new piece or project, there was always a sense of uncertainty, and from project to project, you became more sure. You gained confidence and went on a grand journey of mastery. Over time creatives can lose the initial spark of excitement because things have gotten predictable. It’s similar to thinking you want magical abilities to manifest anything you want instantly. If you had those powers, you would realize that life is somewhat dull without a journey, and soon you wouldn’t want your magical powers anymore. If things have gotten stale, it’s time to pivot and make a detour into the unknown.
A few years back, I decided to start taking more risks. I had a dream where I saw myself later in my life, and thinking back on my experiences, I realized far too late that life was a journey meant to be fun. Once I awoke from that dream, I realized that this is the only life I am guaranteed, and all of the stress over perfectionism and the work to constantly outdo myself wouldn’t be what I would remember. It would be the experiments and the risks I took — the times when I dared greatly and found joy in play. Play is the lifeblood of all creativity. If you pay attention to children, they know this. It is inherent to their nature. I have a two-year-old nephew, and he loves watching construction equipment videos and has many toys such as excavators and cranes. When I see him play, I see him try to use items in new ways until something he tries works for what he needs. Play is how children naturally learn. Somewhere along the way, we tell ourselves it’s time to get serious, and we get seriously burned out and stuck in a rut of repetition. Without the freedom to play, it’s nearly impossible to branch out and discover your creative style. Play is the best way to learn, and if you aren’t learning, you aren’t progressing on your journey.
Risks, experimentation, and uncertainty sound like scary concepts, so I find it easier to call it play. When you call something play, you eliminate the pressure of it being profitable or acceptable to the public. Honestly, you can keep your play 100% to yourself if it helps you relieve the stress of judgment. Using the terminology “Play,” you allow yourself to let loose and make mistakes. There is almost a guarantee there will be hiccups when stepping out of your norm. It’s a lot less stressful if you can laugh them off or use them as a means to learn what not to do. Don’t get discouraged if you branch out into a new medium and are terrible at it. You obviously won’t be a pro from the start, and if you are then, you aren’t growing or learning. People think failure and mistakes make them weak, but the courage to try something new and be vulnerable is one of the biggest strengths a person can possess.
Social media only amplifies the highly competitive sphere of art and design. I constantly feel pressure to one-up myself with each project. Often I find myself not sharing my work because I don’t think it is better than the last project. It’s as if each project I tackle my standard raises, and eventually, I’m at a standstill. If you back yourself into a corner of perfectionism, it can get discouraging and make you want to give up. This type of unrealistic standard is how you suffocate creativity.
The best thing about playing is the opportunity to find inventive ways to cross-pollinate your skillset and approach things from a new angle. I recently listened to a lecture by the infamous designer Paula Scher. In this lecture, she discusses some of the highlights of her career. For over 30 years, Paula Scher’s career has morphed and evolved numerous times. She has tackled everything from brand identity to architectural design. Over time an intriguing pattern emerged within her most successful projects. This pattern was an air of uncertainty. Some of her favorite and most successful projects were successful because, going into the project, she wasn’t sure how to achieve the goal. Her unfamiliarity with the standards of a particular field caused her to think outside the box and do things professionals would never consider. Paula Scher is such a success story because she understands how to use play to reinvent herself repeatedly as an artist.
How crazy is it the play teaches, reinvents, refreshes, and causes innovation, yet we write it off? Making time for play is vital if you keep running into creative blocks, let perfectionism rule, or lose interest in your craft. I hope this article inspires you to venture into the uncertainty of play. I hope you can be brave enough to roll up your sleeves to get messy in a new medium or style. If we can make time for play, we can become more well-rounded creatives and find so much more joy in our day-to-day lives.
