In my daily work as a data scientist, I'm often faced with urgent, complex problems—but rarely with clear solutions. I have to define the questions myself, usually by trying, failing, and trying again. The process is messy, nonlinear, and often frustrating.
Surprisingly, the same is true in my favorite hobby: playing jazz guitar. Finding the right chord progression or a memorable improvisational phrase doesn’t come easily. It takes trial, error, and time.
Two very different worlds—science and music—share something essential: creativity.
Creativity as Discovery
To me, creativity means discovering or building something I didn’t even know was possible. It’s not just solving puzzles with known answers. It’s uncovering the unexpected. Over time, I’ve come to see that creativity isn’t a rare gift reserved for the few—it’s a seed planted in all of us.
But like any seed, it needs care. The real difference between mediocrity and mastery is whether or not we give it space to grow.
Nurturing the Muse
That growth begins with listening to the quiet inner nudge—the sense that there’s a new way to see, express, or solve something. Creative breakthroughs can’t be forced, but they don’t happen without effort. The muse doesn’t arrive on demand, but she respects consistency.
The Modern Threat to Creativity
In our tech-driven world, creativity faces a quiet threat I call “existential laziness.” This isn’t just avoiding work—it’s disengaging from the challenge altogether. Why struggle through uncertainty when a click gives us quick answers?
But real creativity lives in that uncertainty. It’s born when we stay with tough questions long enough to find something new.
Why Creativity Still Matters
In ancient times, it was about survival—tools, shelter, strategy. Today, with many of our basic needs met, creativity still matters. It’s how we improve our lives, protect our dignity, and push the boundaries of what it means to be human.
A life without creativity can survive—but it won’t flourish.
Creativity: Our Gift and Our Responsibility
In the end, creativity is both a burden and a gift. It asks us to participate in shaping who we are—not just as thinkers or doers, but as creators of meaning. And in that making, we come to know ourselves.
