The Imagineering
Workout ~ Update 2
Remaining Curious
Requires Confidence
“Adults who remain
curious have learned to ‘not care’ about what others think
or they had enough
confidence as children to keep their curiosity.”
Katie Roser
Prop/Set Designer
Walt Disney
Imagineering Florida
This is in a section of the book called Getting Started.
This brings to my mind a thought I’ve had for a long time. We need to keep a
childlike (not childish) view of the world. Now stop! Don’t think I’m telling
you to act like a little kid and start ignoring adult reality.
Kids have a special way of thinking. They don’t
automatically set limits on what they do. If they come up with an idea they
will stick with it, trying different ways to make it work. They don’t usually
care much if they fail as long as they get closer to the goal. What if I . . .
. is their language. That is because they are curious. It takes curiosity to
create and it takes courage to continue after you fail once, twice or more.
It is only when the adults in their lives tell a child to “quit
trying and see reality” they stop trying. Also constant failure usually caused
by lack of adult support causes failure. A child can’t succeed at drawing if
they don’t have art supplies. A child can’t learn to build if they don’t have
blocks. This barrage of negative thought and lack of support will kill both curiosity
and courage.
If you want to succeed at being creative you need to learn
to think like a creative child. Remember to give yourself permission to try and
fail. It is in failure you learn what works. It is in sticking with an idea
that problems are solved and creativity happens. Quit letting what others think
or say limit your creative thinking. So what if they don’t like the color you
paint your room. If you like it that is what is important. Don’t let fear of
failure stop you from trying and trying again.
This is a lesson I’m trying to learn. I’m trying to reject
the negative comments people make or have made and only accept the constructive
thoughts. I’m learning to let myself enjoy the process of being creative and
learning. I’m trying to recapture the courage of my childhood. I’m learning to
stop the negative thoughts I have. I’m working on telling myself I can instead
of I can’t.
I’ve found in the last few days when I did let myself
recapture my creative courage I succeeded more at the tasks. The tasks were
everything for trying something different when I cooked to writing. I also found
when I gave others the support they needed to have the courage to succeed, The
support has been in both encouraging words and giving them the supplies they
need they succeeded.
My husband has been wanting to build a table and counter
with granite tops for our BBQ area for a long time. He had some of the supplies
and some ideas. There has been a lot of comments negative comments about not
being able to succeed at building this. My husband doubted his ability. Today
he has almost finished it. It is together and just needs the finishing touches
to complete it.
So how are you going to recapture the courage to create? How
are you going to encourage others in their creative endeavors?
If you wish to follow along and read the book for yourself here is the information:
The Imagineering Workout
By The Disney Imagineers
ISBN 078685554-1
It is available at Amazon.com
