There’s always been a lot of speculation over where creativity originates. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was believed to come from an external source known as a “genius”. It was believed that some had this source and others didn't and it was some sort of divine being that bestowed inspiration upon those that were lucky enough. This concept is explored by Elizabeth Gilbert throughout a TED Talk that she delivered. Gilbert, as a renowned writer today, explains how she is disheartened by the societal pressures on modern writers. She reverts back to ancient beliefs on creativity in an attempt to find relief. Creators wouldn’t receive complete credit if creativity isn’t completely of their own accord, but they also can’t be left with complete accountability. Gilbert says, “You know, even I have had work or ideas come through me from a source that I honestly cannot identify”. She expresses that inspiration often comes from exterior sources, greater than what we know to be humanly possible. No one knows if this unidentifiable source will provide again to assist the creator. She describes these flashes of divine greatness through a flamingo dancer that puts on a miraculous show but still wakes up the next morning to be an ordinary person. Leading to the conclusion that it is great to have a “genius” but it can often be difficult to live up to.

I have experienced a process similar to what Gilbert describes, in my senior year of high school. We had to analyze any aspect or concept of a film for a project in my film class. It was the day before it was due and I had no idea what I was even going to research. I wanted an original idea but nothing spoke to me. To take my mind off of it I decided to touch up my roots. I broke out the hair dye, watching my reflection in the mirror, making sure that I didn’t miss a strand of hair. This is when it came to me. I would do a project analyzing how Disney princesses perpetuate stereotypes about hair color. After I finished my hair, I immediately began to work. I wrote with such conviction. I didn’t know how this idea came about, sure I was dyeing my hair but this idea was from some distant part of me that I didn’t even know existed, but I was going to run with it. It felt right, as if I needed to execute these thoughts. I was finally finished at a little after three in the morning. I went into school the next day with a project I was proud of and ready to present. My teacher was engaged the whole time which provided me with immense confidence. At the end of class my teacher even came to me to make sure that she had a copy of my work because she wanted to incorporate certain elements of my project into her gender studies class. This moment was glorious but not long because, like the dancer who realizes he is only mortal, I am reminded that I am merely a senior in high school and there are more assignments to come. She may now grade my future work differently because she has seen what I am capable of, and it frightened me. Was this creativity something that I can provide regularly? If it wasn’t, then the work must not have been fully of my doing.

Inspiration may always be a mystery. Though it may sound irrational, based on my experience, Gilbert’s ideas about creativity and inspiration don’t seem that far off. It is possible that there is a source bigger than us feeding are creative juices, but that doesn’t mean it has to be this ghostly being. Inspiration can be all around us, its possible it can be found in nature, or in a person, or even in performing an action like dyeing your hair. There is no guarantee that one will be able to tap into this place of creativity on demand. The pressure to live up to expectations set by an unpredictable thing may lead to disappointment and anguish but when these expectations are met it is miraculous. Some, like Gilbert, may even consider it a “glimpse of God.”