The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life

A Short Summary

"The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life" by Twyla Tharp illustrates creativity as a skill you can develop, not a magical gift. Tharp, an acclaimed choreographer, divulges her journey and shares actionable ways to foster creativity. Her central argument is that consistent routines or habits can can serve as a catalyst for your creative energies, leading to remarkable innovation and craftsmanship. It's not about idly waiting for inspiration but about commitment, discipline, and regular practice.

Actionable Takeaways

• Cultivate a Ritual: Kick off your day with a habit that stirs your creativity. Tharp starts with a morning workout, a sign to her mind that it's time to craft. But it really the cab ride to the gym that serves as the trigger. Once that is done she knows she will get the workout in. Pinpoint a ritual that aligns with you - a stimulating cup of coffee, a sunrise run, or a peaceful meditation. This primes your brain for creativity.
• Seek Your Creative DNA: Discover what uniquely drives and influences you. This "creative DNA" is an assemblage of your life experiences, preferences, and inspirations. Collect these influences into a tangible or digital 'box.' Whenever your creativity needs a nudge, delve into this box.
• Nurture Creative Stamina with 'The Spine': Each of Tharp's dances revolves around a central theme or 'spine.' Likewise, your creative endeavors need a spine, an integral idea that navigates your work. Retaining this 'spine' keeps your focus intact, preventing your project from becoming disoriented or directionless.
• Welcome Failure: Every idea won't hit the mark, and that's perfectly fine. Regard failures as learning opportunities, not stumbling blocks. They are chances for growth and development. Alter and refine your approach based on the lessons these failures impart.

Why this Book is Worth Your Time

"The Creative Habit" demystifies creativity, presenting it as accessible to anyone ready to invest the effort. Tharp's extensive experience and proven tactics serve as a guide to nurturing your creativity. This advice caters to everyone, not just dancers or artists, whether you're a musician, an entrepreneur, or someone seeking more innovation in their daily routine. This book acts as a lighthouse of inspiration, reshaping your perspective towards creativity and broadening your horizons of innovation. Delve into it, and learn how to sculpt your unique creative habit.

Active Writing Exercise: Shape Your Creative DNA Box

In "The Creative Habit," a key insight is recognizing your "creative DNA" — the distinctive influences and experiences that fuel your creativity. Twyla Tharp proposes gathering these inspirations into a tangible or digital box. Here's an exercise to help you construct your personal Creative DNA Box.

Reflect: Think about what kindles your creativity. Maybe it's a book, a melody, a film, or a piece of artwork. Perhaps it's a personal story or a life event. Maybe it's something that caught your eye while wandering around. These inspirations form your creative DNA.

Create a List: With these ideas in mind, pull out a notebook or start a digital document. Start jotting down these inspirations. Remember, no thought is too tiny or too bizarre. It could be a phrase, a character, a theme, a location, or a piece of art.

Explore: Once you've got a good list, spend some time with each item. Write a couple of sentences or a paragraph about why it sparks your creativity. What feelings does it evoke? What thoughts does it provoke? How can it blend into your creative work in the future?

Construct Your Box: Now, it's time to assemble your Creative DNA Box. If you prefer a physical box, think about printing out quotes, images, or other tokens of your inspirations. If you lean towards a digital box, you could use something like Pinterest, Notion, or just a simple folder on your computer.

Remember, this is your creation, meant to evolve over time. Feel free to add or adjust as needed. When you're looking for a jolt of inspiration, just open your Creative DNA Box, peruse your list, and dive into your collected inspirations to reignite your imagination.

Next Steps

Explore Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit" on Amazon to accelerate your creative journey.