You weren't born with the creative gene.

Neither was Picasso, or Jobs, or Mozart. They weren't handed a special card at birth that said "permission to create granted."

What happened instead was simpler, and more profound: They kept their switch flipped to "on." 🧵

I write about tech + humans + philosophy. Farcaster OG. FID 3305 founder of /theindex 

https://www.joanwestenberg.com/

The switch exists in all of us. It's that moment when a child asks "why?" for the hundredth time. Or builds a fort from sofa cushions. Or turns a cardboard box into a spaceship.

The difference isn't in who got the switch. The difference is in who decided to keep it on when others suggested they turn it off.

The myth of the creative genius serves those who benefit from others staying in line. It's a story that keeps the switch turned off.

Your job? Find your switch. Flip it on. Keep it there.

Even when it's hard.
Especially when it's hard.

That's the work.

"Be practical," they say.
"That's not how it's done," they insist.
"Stay in line," they demand.

But creativity isn't a birthright - it's a practice. A daily choice to flip that switch back on, especially when it feels easier to leave it off.

That old adage: a creative adult is a child who survived

Werd. I just watched a great TED talk the other day about how we should act more like kids. My homie wrote a book last year "Trust Children" also emphasizing the need for creativity, not just for kids but for adults too. Keep up the good work 👍