On creativity and meaning: The intricate relationship between creativity and meaning in life and creativity as the means to repay existential debt

TL;DR

The paper explores how creativity contributes to meaning in life and how both are affected by modern stressors.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of creativity as a means to repay existential debt and its role in psychological well-being.

Findings

Creativity is a source of meaning in life and is linked to psychological well-being.

Modern stressors like low trust and fear can reduce creativity and lead to meaninglessness.

Prioritizing creativity in society can enhance well-being and meaningful living.

Abstract

Creativity, which is the leverage of imagination to attain valued goals, is one of the defining features of humans. It is the trait that gives an advantage to humans in solving problems, enhancing their survival. Creativity is a critical evolved trait, hard-wired in the human genome and linked with many benefits, including mating success, psychological well-being, and human thriving. Evidence suggests creativity is a critical source of meaning. Many features of the modern world promote the interrelated factors of low trust, fear, and acute stress which make people vulnerable to meaninglessness or meaning crisis and these same factors negatively impact creativity. This suggests a relationship between meaning in life and creativity in which meaninglessness may negatively impact creativity and vice versa. In this paper, the role of creativity in providing meaning in human life, as the essence of human existence to repay our evolutionary or existential debt, and the intricate relationship between psychological well being, creativity and meaning in life are discussed. The need and ways to prioritize creativity in society to improve psychological well-being and make people live meaningfully are also discussed.

Figures