The Joy of Creation
The True Driver of Creativity and Innovation
Spring brings an explosion of creation—new grass, blooming flowers, and baby chicks growing feathers. Nature effortlessly produces countless chemicals in leaves, flowers, and tree bark—without factories, manpower, or energy-intensive processes. It is as if a whole new world is conjured into existence, seamlessly and joyfully.
This effortless joy is striking. Everything in nature, from rocks to trees to squirrels, radiates exuberance, so much so that we seek refuge in it. We even have a name for it, forest bathing—immersing ourselves in nature for rejuvenation.
Yet, in our own creative pursuits—whether in art, work, or at home—this joy is often missing. Why? And can we reclaim the effortless creativity that nature displays?
The effortless creativity of children
A synonym for effortlessness is child’s play—a phrase that reveals much. Left to their own devices, children exhibit uninhibited creativity, instinctively making musical instruments, dolls, and houses from sticks, mud, and rocks. As they create freely and effortlessly, they experience a tremendous sense of joy, the joy of creation. There is no striving. Only sense of being.
This effortlessness should not be confused with simplicity. Children’s creations can be surprisingly complex. Just as nature forms intricate chemical compounds that we struggle to replicate in labs, children generate advanced ideas. At five, my daughter built a dam while playing outside without prior knowledge of the concept. At seven, while designing a dollhouse, she crafted a circular bed suspended from the ceiling and added a helipad on the roof.
The power of intrinsic motivation
What truly drives children’s ingenuity? The childhood acts of creation arise from an innate human need to create, driven by intrinsic motivation rather than rewards or approval.
Schools use gold stars to encourage students, just as workplaces use promotions and bonuses to drive productivity. While these methods enforce compliance and efficiency, they do not foster genuine creativity. External rewards like accolades, praise, or money; function as carrot-and-stick mechanisms, dictating behavior but failing to inspire true innovation.
True innovation is fueled by internal drive—a passion ignited when an idea takes shape. In its early stages, excitement stems from the idea’s potential, not external validation. Though financial gain or recognition may later influence its trajectory, its essence and brilliance originate from the joy of creation.
Many adults have lost this joy, but children demonstrate that creativity flourishes when unburdened by expectations. The key is maintaining this pure, intrinsic joy throughout an idea’s evolution. One of the best ways to do this is through selflessness—shifting focus from personal gain to the greater value an idea can bring to the world.
Creativity vs. Competition: A lesson from the culinary world
This contrast is clear in the world of high-end cuisine. Many Michelin-starred chefs, despite their skill, work under immense stress. The relentless pursuit of novelty, competition, and pressure to maintain status strip away the joy of cooking, reducing it to a performance measured by external standards.
In stark contrast, Jeong Kwan, a Zen Buddhist nun featured in Chef’s Table (a Netflix series), embodies effortless creativity. Living at Baekyangsa Temple in South Korea, she prepares vegan meals for her community and visitors. With no formal training and no desire for recognition, her cuisine has still earned international acclaim. Just like any innovative person, she breaks a lot of rules, the type of risk-taking that is hard to someone who strives for good grades or medals.
Jeong Kwan cooks with profound peace, unburdened by pressure or competition. To her, cooking is meditation and communication, allowing creativity to flow freely. Without the stress of external validation, she has reached a level of mastery comparable to the world’s top chefs.
Innovation thrives on purpose, not pressure
Jeong Kwan aptly states, “If you free yourself from the comparing and jealous mind, your creativity opens up endlessly. Just as water springs from a fountain, creativity springs from every moment. You must not be your own obstacle.”
The greatest innovations stem not from external rewards but from an internal sense of purpose. When we stop seeking validation and embrace the intrinsic joy of creation, we unlock our true creative potential. The challenge is resisting external pressures and staying connected to the passion that first inspired us. By doing so, we cultivate an environment where creativity flourishes and innovation thrives.