Many people underestimate their creativity, even though it’s a deeply human trait. Here are some of the main reasons why people think they aren’t creative:
- Narrow definition of creativity
Many equate creativity only with the arts — painting, writing, music — and forget that creativity also shows up in problem-solving, cooking, designing systems, humour, or even how you tell a story. If you don’t identify with the “artist” archetype, you might dismiss yourself as uncreative. - Early experiences & education
School often rewards “right answers” over experimentation. This is often combined with a belief that there is only one way to get to the correct answer. If a child’s creative attempts were criticized, dismissed, or compared to others, they may carry the belief into adulthood that they’re “not the creative type.” - Perfectionism and fear of failure
Creativity involves risk, uncertainty, and making mistakes. If someone feels pressure to “get it right,” they may avoid trying altogether — and then conclude they’re not creative. - Comparison culture
In a world of social media, it’s easy to compare your raw, messy process to someone else’s polished product. That comparison can make people feel like their ideas aren’t good enough. - Left-brain/right-brain myth
The old (and oversimplified) belief that some people are “left-brained” (logical) and others are “right-brained” (creative) has led many to self-label as “not the creative type,” even though neuroscience shows both hemispheres are involved in creative thinking. - Productivity mindset
In modern culture, there’s pressure to make creativity useful or profitable. If your creative expression doesn’t generate results or income, you may not value it as real creativity. - Lack of practice
Creativity is like a muscle. If you don’t exercise it, you might feel like you don’t have it — when in reality, it just needs to be reactivated.
In reality, everyone is creative. The difference often lies in confidence and using the correct tools to develop the creativity muscle.
