04 Dec Bank on Your Creative Mind Palace

I’d bet most people avoid creative work simply because they fear it won’t be good enough. Adulthood teaches us to compare ourselves to famous artists and fall short of our expectations. But here’s the truth: creativity, like any skill, requires practice—just like the artists we admire.

Ask any artist, and they’ll tell you: their work is never good enough. Even the creators of the world’s most iconic art still wrestle with self-doubt.

So stop putting yourself down. Stop comparing your work to others’. No good can come from it. Instead, let art inspire your creativity—not demoralize it. Build your mind palace, decorate it with your creations, and watch your creative streak flourish.

If you need a little more convincing, hear me out.

A Real-Life Lesson in Creative Dismissal

I recently switched jobs from a research company to an advertising firm to get closer to the creative process. Now, I’m literally just a few meters away from people who create brand content out of thin air, whether it’s to strengthen a brand or solve an environmental issue. (Gum Shoe, here’s a tribute to you.)

As I was discussing the creative process with a colleague, he decided to share an experience that I believe was a riveting workshop.

To set the scene: we were twelve people, gathered near the harbor in a large warehouse-style atelier, sitting around a big round oak table with building materials, glue, and paint in the middle. Ready to become the next captains of industry, we were about to take part in a workshop titled “How to Deal with Creative-Minded People” — who are often a bit stronger on the emotional side than the logical side.

Our task? Build a miniature house using our imagination and the materials provided. No other rules. We were given two days to complete the house and then present it on the third day. Like kids again, we all jumped in—some of us building our own homes, others recreating dream homes from our childhoods. It was a wonderfully inspiring and relaxing couple of days.

The Power of Dismissive Words

On the third day, with all the houses finished, we were instructed to line them up on the floor. All twelve of us stood behind our creations and waited. The instructor pointed at me and said, “You—tell me about your creation.” With pride, I walked him through my house and backyard, highlighting a miniature willow tree at the center, a tribute to my grandparents’ home. The instructor leaned in, closely inspecting the details of my creation.

“CRACK!” Suddenly, the instructor stomped his foot right where my willow tree once stood. He continued, leaping from one house to the next, crushing them under his heavy boots. We watched in stunned silence as our creations were destroyed in a series of loud cracks. A deafening cry erupted: “What have you done?! I spent days building this, and now it’s ruined!” The instructor didn’t flinch.

As we snapped out of our trance, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and calmly spoke, “And that’s how creative people feel every time you dismiss their ideas.”

He continued, “Experience this feeling. Contemplate it. Your next assignment is to build another house.”

The group, now angry and frustrated, unanimously declared we wouldn’t build another house to fuel his destructive whims. With a smile, the instructor said, “Good, you learn quickly. Whenever you crush an idea as soon as it’s born, you kill the chances of that person contributing new ideas in the future. Remember that.”

As my colleague reenacted the instructor’s stomping in front of me, I realized that, fortunately, I hadn’t built a house for him to crush. But the point hit home loud and clear. Whether we mean to or not, our dismissive words—toward others or ourselves—hold great power.

Encouragement for Your Creative Journey

So here’s my advice: be gentle, considerate, and offer feedback in a structured and kind manner. Otherwise, you risk stifling creativity and discouraging future ideas.

If you’re your own worst enemy, remember that it’s okay to not be perfect every time. The key is to keep creating. Never throw away anything you’ve made, even if it is small or imperfect.

Many of my past writings have sparked entire blog posts or started new conversations with people I have met. I encourage you to keep your creations safe, even if they serve no purpose other than to revisit and remember them.

Creativity: Small Beginnings, Big Possibilities

Creativity takes many forms. It can lift you one day and bring you down the next. It requires both a strong stomach and a gentle heart. It is powerful yet vulnerable. So take a deep breath, and remember—every great creation starts with a small beginning.