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Hey there, friend.

Do you remember how growing up, practically everything you did had this huge emphasis on creativity?

Drawing for hours on end. Coloring in coloring-books. Playing make believe on the playground. It’s like all we did was play, and explore our vivid imaginations.

But as we age, and take on more responsibilities, those fun ways to explore our creativity fade away.

We’re too busy to draw.

We think it’s too childish to color.

You can’t pay the bills by playing on the playground.

And as a result, many of us start to believe we aren’t creative. That creativity is some kind of magical power reserved for artists.

But that’s simply not true.

A few months ago, I spoke with the legendary music producer Rick Rubin about his book, The Creative Act. In our conversation, Rick pointed out that every choice you make that’s different from what you chose yesterday is a creative act.

• Deciding to modify a recipe is a creative act

• Choosing how to arrange your furniture is a creative act

• Planning a trip to visit your friends is a creative act

See, creativity is more than coloring books and Play-Doh. It’s the act of using your imagination to conceive of new ways of solving problems and communicating ideas.

You are creative.

And you flex your creativity each and every day. At work. At home. In the car on your way back from the grocery store. We’re all constantly making these creative decisions, big and small.

Today, I’m inviting you to acknowledge your creativity. And to open yourself to your creativity as widely as you can.

That doesn’t necessarily mean buying a set of watercolors and learning to paint – though it might. Maybe it looks like taking a photo a day on your phone. Or doodling in your notebook. Or inventing silly dance routines on TikTok.

The sky’s the limit.

Because in addition to being creative, you are unique. Your unique lens is going to look different than anybody else’s.

As you explore your creativity – whether by sculpting a statue or decorating your office – you will not only discover more about who you are, but you’ll color the world with your unique perspective. Which the world needs from all of us.

But Jay, my creativity just isn’t as good as so-and-so’s…

The biggest hurdle we face when making creative choices is comparing ourselves to others.

We want our creativity to be accepted by everyone else. So we change what we’re working on to make it more appealing. 

But guess what? You can’t control the outcome. You can’t guess what other people will like or dislike.

All you can do is listen to that voice inside you. That voice that only you can hear.

Sometimes what it says will be confusing.

Sometimes you won’t have the skill to perfectly create what it’s telling you.

And that’s okay. Keep listening. Keep trying. That’s the only way to get better.

If you’re feeling blocked, introduce some novelty in your life. Go to a museum, or a neighborhood you haven’t explored before. Drive a different route home, or read a collection of poetry.

When that thing you’ve made finally makes you happy – when it matches what’s inside your heart and mind so perfectly that you’re excited to share it with the world; whether it’s a recipe, or an email, or a 5-act play; that’s the most valuable thing you can create.

Because there's only one you.

And if you don’t create what’s inside you, nobody will.

With gratitude,

📚 #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
🎧 Host of the On Purpose Podcast
🙏 Creator of the Jay Shetty Certification School

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Challenge for the week ✨

Let’s try something NEW.

This week, commit to doing one thing to flex your creativity.

Then hit reply and tell me what you did and let me know how it went. I might feature a list of ideas next week.

Poll of the week