Being An Artist : The Human Superpower of Creation

My wife and I travel a lot. A couple of years ago, we were boarding a plane, walking down the jet bridge, when I turned to her and said, “You know planes are basically magic, right?”

She gave me that familiar look—half confused, half bracing herself for whatever absurd punchline I was about to deliver.

I continued, “Think about it. A bunch of strangers file into this giant metal tube, sit there for a few hours, and then poof—we all walk out somewhere else on the planet like it’s no big deal.”

She just shook her head and kept walking. Honestly, that’s a pretty standard reaction to the things I say. But seriously… metal tube, sky, new country—tell me that’s not magic.

In truth, I believe humans possess a unique and innate superpower: we are the only species capable of imagining something that does not yet exist—and then bringing it into reality.

Envision and Create

This ability to envision and create is not simply a function of intelligence. It is a deeply human trait that lives in every one of us. Across the spectrum of human history, we have consistently imagined beyond what we could see, touch, or measure, and we have built civilizations, movements, and meaning through that act of creation.

Take science, for example. In the mid-20th century, a young African American woman named Katherine Johnson worked as a mathematician at NASA. Her calculations were critical to sending astronauts into orbit and bringing them home safely. At a time when women, and especially women of color, were marginalized in science, Johnson imagined a future where her intelligence and contributions mattered. She faced constant doubt and systemic obstacles, but she kept showing up, calculating trajectories that would literally take humans into space. Without her vision and persistence, the Apollo missions might not have been possible. Her story is a testament to how quiet courage and relentless imagination can change the world.

In the world of art, consider the work of Frida Kahlo. Her paintings were not just visual expressions—they were raw, emotional landscapes of pain, passion, and identity. In a time when women, especially women of color, had limited space in the art world, Kahlo dared to paint her truth. Her art was not always accepted in her lifetime, but she painted nonetheless, creating a body of work that continues to inspire and challenge viewers around the world. She imagined a voice for herself and gave it color, texture, and life.

Music

Music, too, offers countless examples of imagination made manifest. One of the most striking is the work of Ludwig van Beethoven. Near the end of his life, Beethoven composed his Ninth Symphony while almost completely deaf. He could not hear the instruments, nor the voices that would one day bring his music to life—and yet, he imagined it all. He composed from a place beyond the physical, drawing from a well of internal sound and vision so powerful that it transcended his own limitations. At a time when many would have retreated, Beethoven doubled down on his gift.

These figures—Johnson, Kahlo, Beethoven—were not just geniuses. They were human beings. Each of them faced rejection, illness, resistance, and isolation. And yet they continued to create. Not because they were guaranteed success or praise, but because they chose to trust in their creative instincts, to follow the thread of imagination and see where it led.

This brings us to a deeper question: What about us?

What happens when we imagine? What dreams have lived inside you, quietly waiting to be acknowledged? Maybe you’ve dismissed a creative urge as impractical, silly, or self-indulgent. Maybe at some point, someone told you you weren’t “artistic enough,” or “smart enough,” or “realistic enough.” Maybe you believed them.

But what if the very thing you brushed off was a spark—your unique version of what Katherine Johnson calculated among the stars, what Kahlo poured onto canvas, what Beethoven heard in silence?

Creativity

Creativity isn’t reserved for the extraordinary. It is the ordinary, made sacred by attention. It lives in the parent inventing bedtime stories for their child, in the cook who blends spices not by the book, but by feel. It is the person who rearranges the living room not for guests, but for the joy of a fresh perspective. These small acts of imagination are no less real than the great masterworks of history. In fact, they are the foundation upon which greatness is built.

We often live under the pressure to create something “worthy” or “successful,” but the true value of creativity lies not in outcomes, but in the act of creating itself. It is an expression of aliveness. It reminds us that we are not just passive observers in this world, but active participants—shapers of our own experience.

When we reclaim our creative power, we begin to reconnect with our own humanity. We become more compassionate, more curious, more open. And in that space, we also begin to see the humanity in others.

In a time when the world feels fractured and fast-paced, returning to our imagination may be one of the most radical and healing choices we can make. It allows us to envision something new—not just for ourselves, but for the collective.

This is not just about personal expression. It’s about collective transformation.

Imagine if more of us tapped into our creativity, not just for self-fulfillment, but as a form of service. What would it look like to bring that power to our communities, our relationships, our work? What if art, invention, storytelling, and healing weren’t treated as separate from daily life, but as essential to it?

Because here is the truth: our ability to imagine and create is not just a personal gift. It’s a responsibility. One that can be used to build, to bridge, to heal.

We are living at a time when imagination is urgently needed. Not the kind that distracts us from the world, but the kind that dares to reimagine it. That sees possibility in the rubble. That paints a future where everyone has a seat at the table.

If we allow ourselves to lean into that power—if we give ourselves permission to create from love, from vision, from deep care for one another—then we have a shot at something truly extraordinary.

A peaceful and prosperous world isn’t just a dream. It’s a creation. And we—each of us—carry the tools to bring it into being.

So the question now becomes: What will you imagine next?

And perhaps just as importantly: What are you waiting for?

TAKE ACTION: If you’re interested in mentoring or creative explorations, feel free to contact Gene at www.artistgene.com. Gene works with individuals looking to jumpstart, restart, and reignite their natural creative practices and make it a permanent part of their lives. Ready to reignite yours? Sometimes it just takes the first step, and having someone in your corner always helps. It’s okay to attempt, it’s okay to fail, and it’s okay to be discouraged. What’s not OK is never to do anything at all and ignore that creative fire that exists in all of us.