Podcast Ep8: Don't "Whack-a-Mole" Someone's Creativity

When someone — including yourself — pokes their head up and shares an idea, encourage them (even if that means lying).

In this episode of the podcast (media player below), my creative collaborator from Age 0, Jeff Möehle, joins me once again. One of the topics we cover is creative whack-a-mole-ing.

When someone shares a creative idea with you for the first time, just say: “I like it” even if you don’t. It’s important to be supportive/positive when someone finally sticks their head out and expresses themselves (whether it’s through a poem, a piece of pottery, a song, a drawing, stand-up routine, whatever).

If you say “It sucks”, then you’ve just Whack-a-Moled someone’s budding creativity. Which likely means they won’t take the chance to stick their head out again.

The same holds true for your inner-critic: instead of “This is terrible”, try: “Hey, you gave it a shot, and that’s important.”

Here’s an easier way to think of it: If a kid showed you their first effort at something, would you say “It sucks”? Probably not. So don’t do it to yourself or anyone else. Because even if you don’t like it, there’s someone out there who might.

We need to show our shining, childlike, creative faces to the world and let our voices be heard.

Hear about this brilliant insight and other shiny nuggets in Episode 8 of the podcast:

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Links related to the podcast:

Jeff wanted to write a “barn burner” of a love song about finding the joy in the everyday, like binge-watching HGTV.

Here’s the James Brown Song that inspired Contentment Couch.