Creative Process: The Dance of Opposites

Creativity comes to life at intersections. It thrives on opposites—engaging the polarities until something new emerges. Polarities can seem like opposites at first glance, but they are actually two different interdependent expressions of a larger whole. When we can accommodate polarities, instead of focusing only on one right way, idea, or solution, we have a more creative ecosystem, with the different parts “dancing” together.

Creativity moves us beyond either/or to a place of both/and, where the polarities interact as dynamic parts of an expansive creative playing field, not limited to one side. Here are some“opposites” related to creative process to invite thinking about how to create, design, or facilitate with polarities in mind.