People often underestimate themselves as not being ‘creative enough ’ or think that inspiration will run out after a while. That fear can make them hold back, overthink, or wait for the perfect moment instead of at least beginning.But Maya Angelou, essayist, poet, and change maker, sees creativity from a much different perspective and suggests that creative energy grows when it is given space and practice.
Photo: @DrMayaAngelou/ X
Quote of the day
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have
Maya Angelou
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What does the quote mean?
The quote has a beautiful message: creativity works like a muscle, not like a battery that dies. Maya Angelou explained this idea in an interview published in 1982, where she said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”That does not mean every idea will be brilliant right away. It means the act of creating itself often leads to more creativity. But if one keeps trying, they learn new patterns, discover new connections, and become more confident in their own voice.Angelou also warned that creativity should be encouraged, not suppressed. She further adds that many people lose creative confidence because they are told they are “not artistic” or because they stop practicing for too long.
Why is it important presently?
This quote is quite important today because the lives we live today are quick, non-stop, and barely give us time to reflect, and that can make people feel mentally drained. We spend hours on screens, move fast from one task to another, and often compare ourselves to perfect work on social media. In that environment, many people start believing they have no fresh ideas left.Angelou’s message reminds us that creativity is not reserved for artists alone; it is actually present everywhere and in everything that we do, be it in writing, cooking, parenting, teaching, problem-solving, business, or daily decisions.If creativity grows through use, then the answer to feeling stuck is usually not waiting, but experimenting, making mistakes, and staying active in the process.
