Why Creativity Needs Direction

Imagine this:

You've just arrived in a new city you've never been to before. What's your natural first step when you arrive in an unfamiliar place? Most likely, you'd use a map on your phone to find out where you are and decide where to go next.

Without it, you'd feel lost, and your anxiety might start to build up. This principle also applies to the creative process. To ensure that you're heading in the right direction, you'll need continuous evaluations.

This is important because it helps you determine whether to take a different path. Creativity isn't a freewheeling process where you can do whatever you like for as long as you like.

Just as a road map guides you in a new city, in creativity, you need structure in the form of clear criteria and evaluations to guide your way.

The balance of creativity lies at the intersection of chaos and structure. You need both the freedom to explore and constraints to evaluate your ideas.

Too much structure can hinder your creativity, but too much chaos can leave you directionless, potentially harming your project.

So, having continuous evaluations in your creative process reduces anxiety, makes better use of your time and resources, and provides intention and purpose in your explorations.