Where Does Creativity Go in Adulthood? – An Interview with Brad Rhinehart
Brad Rhinehart was co-hosting The Stretch Podcast when he noticed how often the conversation returned to creativity. The optometrist began gathering ideas from past episodes and research notes, laying the groundwork for Everyday Genius, a book about the creative work people can do beyond the bounds of their day jobs.
In this exclusive interview, Rhinehart explains what scientists and writers have in common, why many adults stop seeing themselves as creative, and how habits as simple as keeping a notebook or taking a quiet walk can make room for new ideas.
Brad Rhinehart, Author
What inspired you to write Everyday Genius, and how did your journey from optometry to authorship begin?
I definitely needed inspiration to conceive of and engage in something so different from my normal work. My first inkling that something was developing came after I had been doing a podcast for a while. I recall one day when I had a very clear realization that much of the conversation related to the concept of creativity. It just rose to the surface, and I messaged my friend and co-host about it.
After that, I began to organize some of the ideas that were scattered throughout our podcasts and research notes, and that collection of ideas became the framework for the book. I like to think that the book is emblematic of its message: that regular people can do important work that lies beyond the boundaries of their normal work.
How has your background in science and literature shaped the way you understand creativity?
Scientific inquiry and writing each follow a process. The processes are different but more alike than we might think. They begin with an idea or question, and then that idea is explored. Both the scientist and the writer generally have some sense of what others in their field have done previously. Each one’s process is iterative. Both the scientist and the writer demonstrate creativity – one designs and conducts an experiment that can tell us something we didn’t know, while the other tinkers with words, characters, and plots to tell a story we’ve never heard.
Humans like to put things in boxes – figuratively speaking. It is natural for us to organize, compartmentalize, and order things; we put science in one box, art in another, philosophy and religion in yet another. This can facilitate progress, growth, focus, productivity, and high achievement, but compartmentalization is a double-edged sword. At some point, I began to realize that the tendency to segregate ideas, skills – even whole disciplines – while necessary, can sometimes be limiting. I think the most innovative people are those who respect what has been done in their area of interest or expertise but do not feel compelled to always work within the confines of our artificial, self-made boxes.
Creativity is not just about music, art, or literature. It operates – of necessity – in other realms: in the scientific process, in industry, in business, and in family life. So I think it’s vital to understand that, regardless of one’s area of labor or interest, there is always potential for innovation and opportunities for us to work more creatively.
While researching Everyday Genius, which historical creator taught you something unexpected about the creative process?
I love da Vinci’s approach. He is often referred to as a polymath, which is to say that he possessed knowledge and skills that covered a variety of disciplines. I don’t know if it was unexpected, but I have been surprised by how clearly I now appreciate that lifelong learning is not so much a matter of raw intellect as it is an outgrowth of an evergreen love of knowledge. I think a polymath is also usually a philomath – one with an intense and persistent love of learning, one who is perpetually curious about many things and has a continuous drive to form questions and search for answers.
One thing I try to emulate is da Vinci’s habit of note-taking. He was always recording his ideas. I’ve also been impressed by the Wright brothers. Their curiosity, tenacity, diligence, and painstaking effort changed our world. There are, of course, many historical examples, but this type of genius is not unique to past creators; a couple of my more modern favorites are Richard Feynman and Neil Peart.
Why do you think so many adults stop seeing themselves as creative?
There are so many reasons, but I think one of the most common, if we are honest with ourselves, is fear of judgment and criticism. Of course, this fear can be masked by – or travel with – self-made narratives about being too busy, too important, or too serious. Some people adopt an attitude of pseudointellectual elitism that views creative hobbies and activities as trivial or self-indulgent. I’ve been guilty of that myself.
Another reason is simply that life is fraught with challenges. Everyone experiences difficult seasons in which time, energy, or material resources can be stretched very thin. Whatever the reason, I think we simply stop seeing the joy of creative work as a personal option. This can be problematic because when we neglect opportunities to be creative, we neglect our own growth.
What do you believe people miss when they think of creativity only in terms of art, music, or other traditional creative pursuits?
There are so many personal benefits to doing creative work: enhanced knowledge, cognitive ability, skill, quality of life, and personal satisfaction. Some creative activities have even demonstrated positive effects on mental health. Creativity involves new ideas that we develop through a process driven by individuality. We do not all have the same ideas, talents, or interests, and so it is unfortunate that, in modern culture, we generally define the fine or performing arts as creative fields but do not recognize or value innovation in other fields the same way. Why don’t we? A careful comparison of creativity in different fields will show that the same general dynamics and processes are at work. Creative ideation, inspiration, and labor can manifest in science, industry, education, business, and literally any other field.
It’s important that, as individuals and as a society, we learn to view creativity more broadly. Creative work is a vehicle for personal growth because it requires us to do things that are intellectually or physically demanding. That labor stretches us as we study and hone our craft in whatever fields interest us.
Furthermore, if we zoom out, we can see that a limited, arts-only view of creativity not only deters us from the work we might otherwise do but also affects others by denying them the fruits of our creative gifts, including those not generally considered artistic. I love music, but I could not enjoy the creativity of composers and musicians as I do without the creativity of inventors and innovators in audio recording, production, and the development of technologies that allow me to stream the music I want to hear.
In your writing about DIY projects, you explore the value of optimism even when things go wrong. What have those experiences taught you about creative confidence?
Creative work is subject to the same forces of opposition as any other endeavor. The motivation to become more physically fit has an ebb and flow that is familiar to many. Anyone who has played golf knows that the swing of the club can lead to a swing in one’s mood – from the elation of a perfect drive to the vexation of duffing an easy putt. Similarly, creative confidence – the expectation that you can not only finish what you start but also actualize your vision with a high degree of accuracy – can feel very pendular, depending on how smoothly or poorly the work seems to be going at any point during a particular project.
It’s important to always acknowledge that things often go wrong or take more time and effort than we might like, not to diminish optimism, but to preserve it when setbacks occur. A mindset that views setbacks as probable – even inevitable – understands that challenges are part of the process. This knowledge can have a defensive quality that protects us from disappointment and failure by making it easier to press forward in spite of difficulties.
What are some simple ways people can make room for creativity in their daily lives, especially outside of work?
The most important consideration is inspiration. In Everyday Genius, I dedicate separate chapters to creating both a physical and an internal environment for doing creative work, but inspiration is essential. Inspiration is a broad topic, but in this context, it means seeking it, recognizing it, having a way to capture it, and understanding how to convert it into a special project – whether it's a new quilt, software program, song, or anything else you might make.
Creative inspiration can come to anyone at any time, but in my experience, preparing to receive it requires effort – like preparing a piece of ground for planting; obstructions need to be removed from the field, and the surface must be evened out, softened, and furrowed. Only then is a particular seed likely to germinate and grow.
Specific practices that have helped me make room for creativity include writing things out, reading out loud, driving with the car stereo off, going for walks, prayer, keeping my workspace in relative order, maintaining an attitude of curiosity, and remembering that great ideas can come from anywhere.
Historically, it was common for people to view the type of inspiration we are discussing as coming from some external source – a higher source. I think that the humility that is naturally linked to such an attitude ultimately helps us receive powerful ideas that we can then filter through our own traits and techniques.
When you feel inspired, it is easier to make room in life for creative work. The Field of Dreams “if you build it” mantra can remind us to prepare for the ideas we hope to receive. A writer who carries a notebook and a pen is favored by the muses over the person whose thoughts decay or vanish during the scramble for a pen or a random scrap of paper. In a pinch, we must do whatever we can to grasp those delicate impressions from the ether, but our yield will be better if we are prepared.
What has pursuing writing, woodworking, and other interests taught you about the importance of creating rather than simply consuming?
On a practical level, being creative has helped me see the importance of ideation, planning, organizing, and gathering materials. Creativity should always involve some element of magic, but we can’t ignore important logistical considerations. I’ve learned more about – and developed a greater capacity for – personal traits like faith, optimism, patience, and diligence. Building projects that were relatively large or complex have really pushed the limits of my endurance and diligence.
Writing can be relatively formless and free in the beginning, but every writing project seems to become more demanding as it develops, requiring exactitude – a very high level of attention to detail. That demand has improved my critical thinking abilities. I’ve also discovered that it is good for me to develop my interests in different areas. Doing so has changed me through the acquisition and development of knowledge and skills, but creative work has also altered how I think and feel about myself and the world I live in.
Think of how little children love to share their random scribblings or the stack of blocks they’ve arranged. They are excited not only about the work itself but also about discovering their nascent abilities, and that awareness helps them establish their identity. I think that the impulse to create and share stays with us throughout life, though many of us tend to neglect it as we age, in spite of the benefits that come from honoring and developing those impulses in constructive ways.
I’ve learned that each one of us is so much more than what we simply consume or even what we do for work or leisure, though what we do tends to form part of our complex identities. Indeed, it is still common for us as adults to base much of our identity on what we do. It’s often one of the first things we share when we meet someone or speak about another person. It’s even common to see one’s hobbies listed on résumés or in biographies, but this is not merely a social pattern; it demonstrates how our identity is naturally connected to what we do, including the creative work we engage in.
We all consume, but there is a special type of satisfaction reserved for creators. I feel that the things I create can serve as an offering to others and even be an expression of gratitude for what others have done, for the creative gifts and opportunities I’ve been given, and for the inspiration I’ve received.
If readers take away just one lesson from Everyday Genius, what would you want it to be?
On a cognitive level, I want everyone to understand that creativity is a universal human trait and that doing creative work is an option for each one of us. A person may have the potential to be a great athlete, but if that person does not take up a physical hobby or play a sport, those athletic gifts remain dormant. For all practical purposes, it is as though such a person is not athletic despite innate abilities.
One must step into the arena, so to speak, where one’s natural abilities can be used, maintained, and even improved – but doing so is a choice. I also hope that, on an emotional or spiritual level, readers feel inspired – motivated to become more creative and thus more knowledgeable, more skilled, more substantive, and happier.
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