I'm not intelligent or creative enough to do anything.?

Question

A lot of other people seem to be so bright, but I'm not anything.

I can sing, a little.

I used to be creative, but it's gone now.

What can I do to not feel so hopeless?

I don't want any sympathy, I want real answers.

I already read a lot.

I used to write poetry, but people told me my poems sucked.

Supposedly when I was little I had a talent for writing, but that was probably false, because they were trying to build me up.

Answer 1

"I used to be creative, but it's gone now."

I hear you on this one, as I have been struggling with a writer's block of my own for years now.

I think the single biggest thing you can do is to DO something. Get a friend to help you if you need to, and write up a rough-guide sort of daily planner, you need not cover every last minute, but at least fill up a 4 x 6 inch notecard with what you plan to do, hour by hour, on any given day...

And in that planner, set aside time to *do* something creative. Work on your singing....try singing songs where you aren't as familiar with the lyrics, or with the kind of music. See if you can't find a simple musical instrument, get some instructions on how to play it (Harmonicas can be good in this regard), and practice.

That last word is one of the most important ones here: PRACTICE. Set aside at least a little time each day to *practice* what you do....keep at it until it feels fun again. At first it will feel like work because it is, but just relax, do it for your own benefit, nobody else's...no one else even has to be around for this. Think of it as a workout. Look at it like you have gotten out of shape. You're doing this for yourself and so yeah, you're not going to be brilliant at first, or even for a while.....but you will get there. Practice makes perfect.

Also, you might want to consider starting with something that you'd consider "easy" or a "no-brainer"....and then do something *one step* simpler than that. If need be, start your singing practice with nursery rhymes and children's tunes like "Row Row Row Your Boat". The ideas are to a) not push yourself too hard, and b) just *give* you a quick and low-effort (though not easy given the emotional struggle) success early on to keep you *motivated* to *Practice*. If you take up drawing, try starting with crayons and stick figures, or doodles. If you take up sculpture, start with paper--nothing as fancy as origami, I mean the paper, scissors and glue stuff you likely did at least a little bit of in grade or middle school.

Point is, you need some success, early and often, to reinforce your efforts and keep you going, so yeah, to start with, keep it super simple. Think water colors, not oil paints. No, wait, scratch that....don't think regular water colors....

think of those crayons that *become* water color paint when wet by a brush. ^_^

Also another thing to consider....try breaking up the work into pieces. If writing a whole book or journal is too much, try writing a single page at a time....if that is too much, invest in post-it notes and try focusing on one or two *good sentences* at a time. Really, every little bit helps. Doing *anything* beats doing nothing, especially now that you've set aside the time *every day* to *Practice*. Two sentences a day, seven days a week, adds up to a paragraph. In a month you have a page, in a year or two you have a short story, like it or not. Or....you write a short chapter a year.

Point is...it's going to take some work to get you back to where you were (or better), but it can be worth the effort, and there *are* ways to break that effort down so that it's easier and more rewarding early on when it is harder to get started. Starting off super simple, and breaking the work down into pieces, are two of those ways, but they only really work well when you *decide* to committ yourself to a schedule and committ yourself to doing the work.

And as for the "intelligence", much of it is the same sort of thing. Yes, some people have more intellect innately, but a *lot* of that can be worked on and improved upon. Have you ever just considered going to the public library, picking out some random book, and *reading* it? There's no need to read cover-to-cover in one sitting, or to pick Shakespeare or anything...

The idea is that being well-read is a habit. Working to expand your vocabulary is a habit. Solving puzzles (word problems, riddles, Sudoku) is best done as a habit too. Really, your mind can and will be improved if you set aside time to work on it, every day, and if you look at it as *exercise* you do *for yourself*. It's self care, rather like making sure you take a shower, wear clean clothes, and eat once in a while.

And again, the ideas are simple: start slow and one step *simpler* than what you'd normally do, just so you can ace it and get an easy lift and some easy motivation. Yes, some call it sandbagging but you have to start somewhere. And break the task down into pieces small enough you can handle.

Oh, and the bonus for working on intelligence is: you have more raw materials to work with when it comes time to be creative! So practicing on both fronts at once, or more precisely, in multiple ways at once, actually helps more, is more motivating and less boring, than sticking to one thing. Read *and* sing *and* look into puns and riddles *and* do some simple watercolor. Remember, you are doing all of this to the *same brain* so the more directions from which you can attack the problem, the more likely you will get it taken care of.

And the more likely you will get *your needs* taken care of.

I hope this helps. ^_^ Thanks for your time and patience!

Answer 2

I used to feel more or less this way, sometimes.

I would suggest just trying things- and giving them more than a one-time attempt. What do you enjoy doing? That is really the key. It sounds like you want to be creative.

I would suggest you read. Read alot- see what ideas it gives you. There is such a wide variety of stuff out there, and that really gets the ideas flowing for me. Try writing, maybe. Write what you'd want to read. Write whatever comes into your head, without worrying about if it's good or if it's a story or anything. Try that out for a while, and see if you enjoy it.

Likewise, you can try drawing, or other types of art. Most people really aren't good at something right away, but do it because it's fun and interesting, and maybe something will come of it. Again, give it a try for a while, and if it does nothing for you, then you can let it go.

Work on your singing more, if you enjoy that- sing all the time, and what you like to. You could take voice lessons if you really want to get better and you don't feel like practice alone is doing it. Try things like dancing, or acting. Be happy with the fact that you are doing it, rather than never feeling like you've gone far enough with it.

I think the key to being creative- something I need to work on, too, is always asking questions. When you watch tv or movies, or read books, or just as you walk around in your daily life, really observe what you see and think about it. And then ask questions. Once you start thinking that way, then sometimes you come up with answers. they may not be the only answer, but ideas. You can apply that to almost anything you are interested in. And then suddenly, you find you have more creativity than you thought.

But foremost- don't stress yourself out about it, too much. I find I am least creative when I'm going "everyone is more creative than me!" :) Just relax, experiment with things to see what you like, and then focus on those. Don't worry about what other people are doing, just try to think about what you want to do, and then do it, without forcing it. Try things out, and give yourself a chance. Confidence can definitely help creativity. There will probably be no sudden miracle, but I bet you'll find you have a lot more creativity and intelligence than you're giving yourself credit for. And hopefully, you'll see how the creative people are often just as insecure. Good luck.

Answer 3

Hi ScarecrowedSally. You write beautifully! Just compare your writing to 99% of everything else on this site!

It sounds like your talent and creativity are intertwined with your feelings and expressing them. So write about those feelings! Write poems. Write essays. Write a book. Just keep writing. Tell the world about what/how you feel! Millions of others have the same feelings.

You may want to take a few creative writing classes (yes, you are creative, yes you are!) at your local community college.

I would also like to recommend a great and fun little book on writing by Roberta Jean Bryant. It is called: "Anybody Can Write: A Playful Approach". She offers lots of very helpful, fun and easy writing tips.

Here are a few topics you might try writing about - just to show yourself you can be creative! "What would a cloud say on a rainy day?" "What does a donut hole want us to know?" "Are shoelaces 'knotty'?"

Have fun with yourself! Express yourself - you have a lot to say about issues that millions of other people are also thinking, feeling, and suffering.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 4

First of all, singing is creativity! Do not underestimate your talent. That's the first thing you need to do to feel better. Its easier to feel dejected when you are surrounded by people who you consider more intelligent and talented than you, you feel like a faliure. But that's because you put yourself a pedestal below them and automatically place them above you. Look at yourself with the same admiration you look at others with, because I believe you deserve it.
Learn your positive qualities. I'm sure you have many! Do not undermine them just because you don't think its not 'cool' or really any good. That's your self-esteem talking. Accept who you are, and most of all LOVE who you are. If you don't nobody else will.
It's a world out there that's waiting to squash anyone beneath their cruel feet. Unless you know you deserve to stand among them, you won't be able to.
by the by...singing actaully adds IQ points..so..re-think that not intelligent part ;)
Wish you my very heart-felt best!

Answer 5

Don't be too hard on yourself. Not everyone is creative and not everyones. creative efforts are appreciated. I recommend if you enjoy singing or writing poetry then do if for yourself. You may never make money or get famous but you are doing something you enjoy. If it turns out to be work, then don't sweat it, drop it. You may be good at things in life that aren't creative. There are other qualities known and appreciated in the human race.

Answer 6

The only person who has made you feel that way is you, no one can make you feel ignorant, uncreative, or even inferior without your consent, it's you who is making you feel that way. The only persons opinion you should ever care about is yours. If you don't want to feel hopeless try giving yourself hope. All that shame or misery that you feel reflects and people see it. If you dont want sympathy, stop being miserable and enjoy the things that make you happy instead of wondering if someone is better than you at it.

Answer 7

You can self fulfill your prophecies. You must force yourself to stop thinking this way.

As we get older and wiser we learn our limits. This can be discouraging. But if we know our talents & limits, then we can use them wisely. If other people detect this positive balance in us, then they will appreciate our talents and maybe even employ them for a good cause.

Do your thing.

Answer 8

get reading kid books like half magic or something to get creative

Answer 9

everyone has something they are good at smoke a fat joint and let the inspiration flow :)