Choosing Creativity as a Practice, Not a Trait

Creativity is often discussed as a cognitive act: generating ideas, solving problems, or recombining concepts. Empirical research, however, shows that cognitive capacity alone does not account for creative outcomes. Emotional states, self-beliefs, and regulation strategies play a measurable role in whether ideas are pursued, refined, or abandoned. Studies in psychology and organisational behaviour consistently link creative performance to affective factors such as mood, motivation, and perceived self-efficacy.

Research indicates that different emotional states support different phases of creative work. Positive, high-energy moods are associated with cognitive flexibility and exploratory thinking, which supports idea generation and conceptual expansion. In contrast, lower-arousal or more subdued moods are linked to analytical depth and critical evaluation, aiding refinement and decision-making. Creativity, therefore, is not dependent on maintaining a single “ideal” emotional state, but on navigating transitions between states as work progresses.

Persistence emerges as a central variable. Longitudinal studies of innovation processes show that creative work is typically non-linear and emotionally demanding, involving repeated setbacks, revisions, and uncertainty. Emotional regulation strategies, such as cognitive reappraisal, stress management, and self-compassion, have been shown to reduce disengagement after failure and support sustained effort. Creativity succeeds less through inspiration than through the capacity to remain engaged when outcomes are unclear.

Within organisational and national ecosystems, this places responsibility beyond the individual. Systems that promote creativity while emphasising speed, certainty, or output metrics alone can unintentionally suppress the behaviours they seek to encourage. Institutional design, from education and funding structures to leadership norms, shapes whether emotional labour is acknowledged or ignored. From a National Sense of Responsibility perspective, fostering creativity involves creating environments that tolerate iteration, recognise emotional load, and reward learning alongside results. Responsibility here is structural: aligning incentives, timelines, and evaluation methods with the realities of how creative work actually unfolds.