Often while I am trying to sleep, I find that my brain is running through conversations, books, movies, TV shows, songs, or any of millions of other things I have experienced over the last 50 years. I’m sure many of you can relate to that. Most of the time I will attempt various techniques to shut it down so I can go to sleep. Mostly they don’t work, but I keep trying. A few nights ago, my mind was ruminating on an idea that I felt I needed to do something with, so I got up at 2:30 and jotted down a few notes with the intention of turning them into something worth sharing. Here is the somewhat scattered and not quite fully formed result.
Some ideas that woke me up at 2:00 AM
Authoritarians often rely on fear and anger to motivate and manipulate people. Those emotions cause tunnel vision and limit our ability to think creatively. By keeping us focused on some threat they continuously wave in front of us, whether real or manufactured, they blind us to the actual harm they themselves pose to us all. They also make it much more difficult for us to recognize and accurately assess real problems and consider possible solutions.
Creativity and creative thinking are the enemies of authoritarian regimes. Not only because they help cut through the noise and the disinformation they force on us, but also because art and beauty bring joy. Joy then gives rise to hope. Hope in turn fuels action. And action drives change. If there is one thing authoritarians fear more than anything else, it is change. That is one of the reasons they always fail, because change is the one constant in the universe. Change doesn’t always come quickly, often it feels glacially slow, but did you ever try to stop a glacier?
So, what does this mean for you as a creative person? Maybe you don’t think of yourself as an artist or an activist or see your creativity as political. Fine. But maybe the things you create help ease the burden for someone doing other work which matters to you, work you want to see done but have not been able to get involved with yourself. Perhaps your art brings them joy and gives them hope, which allows them to carry on the work you value.
Another thing to keep in mind is that small acts of creation help build muscles which can then be used for even bigger and bolder acts of resistance. You may find yourself suddenly realizing “Hey, if I can do this, and it matters, maybe I can do even more?” Whatever your creative outlet of choice is, do it! Whether it is painting, drawing, photography, music, dance, poetry, sculpting, wood carving, cooking, gardening, crochet, needlework, or anything else that brings forth beauty and joy that might otherwise lie hidden. All of it is art. Then, and this step is important, as much as possible, share what you create with family, friends, neighbors, other artists, or strangers on the Internet. If for some reason you are not able to share your own art, find artists whose work you enjoy and share theirs. I promise that they will appreciate any support you can provide.
Whether you are aware of it or not, you are creating your future. Consider this an invitation to get intentional and wildly creative about envisioning the world you want to live in, then share that vision through your art. The world needs more beauty, joy and hope, and contributing to that is an act of resistance we can all get behind.
One final thing I want to share in closing is this short video on an interesting difference between Nobel Prize winning scientists and those who have never won. Perhaps it will inspire you to explore your own creative side, even if you have no aspirations of becoming a Nobel Laureate. TikTok on Nobel Laureates