The Knowledge Trap

Knowledge is a gift; it is how we grow and advance as a society.  We learn from others, their insights and life lessons.

Today, like never before, we are bombarded with opportunities to learn. Books, blogs, articles, movies, documentaries, websites, free webinars, talks, free downloads, YouTube, algorithms that take you to links to learn more and the list goes on…the truth is there is so much to learn and consume that we will NEVER get in front of it all before we create our own unique contribution.   

This knowledge trap can keep you stuck.

I’ve always struggled with this, I am the person who wants to read all the books, consume everything (and from every angle) but experience has shown me that it has only taken me away from my own unique voice and then it takes me longer to find my way back.

I think of times in my past when my creative offerings where most successful and they were ALWAYS when I trusted that I knew enough. I followed my curiosity and acted, usually with impulse, from my gut and with a healthy dose of fear.  To be creative is to be vulnerable after all, and no amount of knowledge can make that feel comfortable.    

To avoid staying trapped I have found it is important to put a time frame around learning.  

I believe it is when you stop learning that your unique creativity can be birthed.

Clues that might be helpful on knowing when you know enough about a subject:

1.       You have heard something more than once.

2.       You know who people are referencing in their material.

3.       You are recognising the materiel people are drawing from before they reference it.

4.       When you are seeing connections.

This is the moment to start making your own work.

On creating:

1.       Stop learning/consuming information and trust that you know enough.

2.       Reflect on your learnings and ask yourself what you think, what messages are coming through you.

3.       Create.  This can be messy and time consuming – draw from your learnings and your own inner wisdom.

4.       Share your creations with others. 

5.       Reflect and learn (this closes the creativity loop).

6.       Repeat.

“The only unique contribution that we will ever make in this world will be born out of our creativity”

Brené Brown