Embrace Creativity This Month

Creativity Is Not Just for “Creative People”

When we hear the word creativity, many of us immediately think of art, painting, writing, music, and design. And while those are all expressions of creativity, they are not the full picture.

Creativity is not limited to one’s artistic ability. In fact, creativity is about the way you think, the way you view the world, and the way you solve problems. It shows up when you:

• Find a new way to approach a problem

• Adapt when things do not go as planned

• Rethink a routine that no longer serves you

• Express yourself in a way that feels honest

Innovation vs Creativity

Many of the previous examples might even sound familiar to you because we try to paint it with a more professional word: innovation. When someone feels stuck, we encourage them to innovate because we know that saying, “be creative” will get a lot of push back.

But the reality is, that innovation is about the application of the idea, while creativity is about the creation of the idea. You can’t innovate, if you don’t create.

So, why is it that we are more comfortable with calling it innovating than creating?

Shifting Perspectives

The simple answer to that question is, the fear of rejection. I am sure you must be thinking, “but how does that fit in?”.

When we call something “innovation”, it feels safer. More structured. More acceptable. It sounds measured and purposeful. But when we call something “creative”, it can feel personal. Vulnerable. Exposed. Open to judgement. Because creativity requires you to put forward an idea that did not exist before. And with that comes a lot of uncertainty. Will it work? Will people understand it? Will it be accepted? What if I look foolish or juvenile? So instead, we lean towards innovation because it feels less risky and suggests improvement rather than originality. You think of the idea as an adjustment rather than an expression of your mind.

But here’s the truth. If you are going to own your story, you will need both. You will need the courage to create new ways of thinking, new approaches, and new possibilities for yourself. And then you will need the willingness to act on them.

Shifting your perspective means allowing yourself to think differently without immediately shutting it down. It means giving yourself permission to explore ideas before judging them. Because the moment you start doing that, you move from simply maintaining your life to actively shaping it.

You Have To Be Creative To Own Your Story

2026 is the year of owning your story, and in order to do that, you need to be creative. You need to ask yourself the question, “how am I going to own it?” and the answer, may require a bit of creativity.  Here are three ways you can be creative with your story:

1.      Read More, Explore More

It might sound strange to be reading other people’s stories for your own story but sometimes creativity does not happen in isolation. It is often sparked by what you expose yourself to. When you read more, learn more, and explore different ideas, perspectives, and environments, you expand the way you think. You begin to see possibilities you may not have considered before. Whether it is books, conversations, podcasts, or new experiences, what you consume shapes how you create.

2.      Just Try It Anyway

Creativity requires action. You can think about new ideas all day, but until you try them, they remain just that, ideas. Not everything you try will work, and that is part of the process. Trying anyway builds confidence, clarity, and direction. It allows you to test what fits and what does not. Owning your story means being willing to experiment, even if the outcome is uncertain.

3.      Stay Curious

Curiosity is what keeps creativity alive. It is the willingness to ask questions, to challenge assumptions, and to look at things from different angles. Instead of settling for “this is just how it is”, curiosity invites you to ask, “what else is possible?” When you stay curious, you remain open to growth, change, and new opportunities, all of which are essential when you are shaping your own path.