So, sometimes we can find ourselves in a position where things are good enough,
but there is a sense that it's just not meaning much.
Things could be better, things aren't really very good.
So that, I think begs a number of question.
One is, why does dissatisfaction happen initially in the first place?
Yeah. I think it's because as we form habits and we have done things like this before.
Not only do we have a perspective on how the story is going to start,
but we have a pretty good idea of where the story is going to end.
Right.
So, that leads us to anticipate that ending and go,
"That's not really where we want to be."
Right.
Yeah. And so that in turn can lead us to go,
"Why even go down that path?
Why even tell that story?"
Because it's going to be an effort.
Telling the story is effort, it's work.
And that's interesting that again we get this perspective
that creativity can originate in something that isn't necessarily positive,
with an impasse, or a sense of meaninglessness.
I can see the road ahead and I don't like where I'm going.
That leads us to creativity that's actually,
it's an interesting point of view.
Yeah.
So then, we're in this position of trying
to re-evaluate what we're doing and potentially changing course.
Why does dissatisfaction prompt change?
As opposed to just,
I just keep moving forward,
and miserable, and cynical.
Or giving it up.
As some of us do.
Or giving up.
I think those are the two things.
It's meaningless, but it gets my paycheck, whatever.
So we rationalize the meaninglessness because
we find some other reason to do it that's good enough to keep going.
Right.
So, I think there are lots of reasons why we don't take this cue.
So, what? It gets us on the other track.
So, yeah.
Like how I made something out of this.
And I think there are two main reasons.
So, one is values. I care about this.
This matters to me, it's important.
I don't want to just do something good enough.
Yeah.
Because that violates some sense of who I think I am,
or what I think matters in the world. I think that's part of it.
Yeah.
I think the other though is an element of achievement,
which is, "Well, everyone else is doing that.
So, what's the point of doing that too?"
If I go in that other direction,
if I find something,
no one else will find it.
So, there's an element of.
So again, I think what's interesting too,
is that this points to a fork in the road.
Some people will respond,
so we're continuing with their perspective and
other people will be inspired to change it.
And so, it's interesting to think about why people choose one path or the other.
Yeah. Well, and I think so that indicates that we
have a choice at how do we deal with the dissatisfaction.
We can be alienated from what we're doing and get through it,
or we can actually dive in and engage with it more deeply.
Yeah, so how can we use dissatisfaction then to prompt creativity?
Yeah. Well, so one is,
you've got to care about what you're doing.
So that's one avenue, and the other is,
even if I don't care about this particular thing,
I might hold some broader values;
truth, beauty, justice, aesthetics.
Right.
This really matters. This is another human being and their life.
And so, I want this to really be as good as I can possibly make it,
not just good enough.
And that push, because of some greater value, deeper need,
either because of the task or because of the other person,
or because of something about myself,
I don't want to just go along and do good enough.
I want to be great.
I want where I'm spending my days on to be meaningful.
And so part of it could be personal ambition.
That I want to be the best.
Yes. That's right.
At something, but you're also pointed to a really different motive too,
which is, I want to do the best for other people.
And those are very distinct motives.
It's interesting to think about those two things as cues to creativity.
Right. I care about the work,
I care about my sense of achievement,
I care about other people.
All of those could be reasons for dissatisfaction.
And the key is,
if you take those seriously,
it's going to force you to think,
how can I do better?
What else could I possibly do to make this story have a better ending?
So, wherever the source of the meaning is that drives you,
I think that's what we need here with dissatisfaction.
And what was interesting is,
when we interviewed creators about what promoted creativity for them, we were floored.
Dissatisfaction was the cue that seemed to pop up with the most,
from the most eminent creators we interviewed.
Right.
So I don't know if that's accidental.
We haven't done the full research study on that, but I don't know.
Maybe there's something about having a pretty high bar for yourself,
that pushes you and drives you to keep looking for another way.
And I think with impasses too,
there's also a bit of optimism mixed in there.
Yeah.
Not only are things not good enough,
but I can make them better,
and I think maybe those are the two things that go together.
That fuse, dissatisfaction and impasse. I think you're right.
So, look, one way we can cultivate
a little bit more creativity and think about
changing our perspectives and building new ones,
is to cultivate a little bit of dissatisfaction.
Having high standards and having values and meaning,
those can be good things that push us to
consider our assumptions and maybe change our perspectives.