Why the Dreamer, Realist & Critic are Essential to the Creative Process

Meet Your Dreamer

In the realm of creativity, the Dreamer has a pivotal role in shaping our ideas and aspirations. The Dreamer is the part of us that dares to dream big, visualizes endless possibilities, and allows our thoughts to roam free, unconstrained by the boundaries of reality. The Dreamer's boundless enthusiasm and optimism serve as driving forces that sets the creative process in motion.

A significant aspect of the Dreamer's role is to spark our imagination and inspire innovative thinking. By tapping into the Dreamer within us, we can think outside the box, explore new territories, and challenge conventional norms. The Dreamer helps us break through mental barriers, opening up a world of potential, which in turn fosters originality and creativity in our work.

The Dreamer also encourages us to cultivate a lifelong passion for learning and curiosity. As we gather new experiences and expand our knowledge, our creative reservoir is enriched. The Dreamer thrives on this continuous quest for knowledge, using diverse sources of inspiration to ignite fresh ideas and perspectives. By nurturing our connection with the Dreamer, we can not only enhance our creative prowess but also develop a richer understanding of the world around us.

Lastly, the Dreamer reminds us to approach our creative endeavors with a sense of playfulness and joy. All too often, we may find ourselves weighed down by practicality, perfectionism, and fear of failure, which can impede our ability to experiment and take risks. The Dreamer, with its adventurous spirit, empowers us to approach our work with curiosity and excitement. By fostering this playful attitude, we can liberate ourselves from self-imposed limitations and unlock our full creative potential, allowing our ideas to soar to new heights.

Meet Your Realist

Now that you know what you want to create and why you want to create it, it's time to figure out how to make it happen. This is where your inner Realist comes in handy.

Think of the Realist as the practical planner and problem-solver in you. It takes your big dreams and visions and breaks them down into steps you can actually follow. It doesn’t just stop at planning; it also helps you take action. The Realist makes sure you're not just dreaming big but also thinking about the realistic ways to make those dreams come true.

Here's what your Realist can do for you:

Organizing your Ideas: It helps you sort your thoughts into a clear plan, putting everything in the right order.

Setting Goals and Deadlines: It helps you set achievable goals, and the deadlines to meet them, making sure you keep moving forward.

Identifying Resources: It helps you figure out what tools, knowledge, and support you'll need, and where to find them.

Adapting to Challenges: It reminds you that it's okay when things don't go as planned and helps you find new ways to move forward.

For example, if you want to write a book, the Realist would help you outline and organize the book, determine how many chapters you need to write, what deadlines to set, and what resources you need, like research materials, expert advice, and of course, a great editor.

The Realist doesn't just deal with the practical stuff. It also encourages adaptability and resourcefulness, which are essential qualities for handling the ups and downs of any creative project. It helps you stay resilient, flexible, and focused, fostering a creative process that's not just imaginative but also well-grounded in reality.

In addition to all this, the Realist is also in charge of establishing milestones and action steps, and discerning the resources, know-how, and support you'll need to succeed. It keeps you on track by reminding you what needs to be done and when.

With the Realist's guidance, you turn your creative ideas into something tangible and successful. You're not just dreaming; you're doing. It's like having a wise friend who knows the way, guiding you through the journey, ensuring you stay on the right path, and reach your destination. By embracing this inner guide, your creative process becomes more balanced, feasible, and fun.

In the next exercise, you’ll get to see your inner Realist flex its strategic planning muscles to help you create a success plan to make your goal a reality.

The Role of Your Inner Critic

Our inner Critic serves as the quality-control expert in our creative process. Its job is to take a step back and look at the big picture. It checks our Dreamer's ideas and Realist's plans to see if there’s anything missing or needed. The Critic makes our thinking sharper and looks closely at our ideas, making sure we're being realistic without being negative. It helps make our creative work better.

Consider Walt Disney's approach when assessing his team's latest movie storylines and character animations. He would engage his inner Critic, acting as a discerning audience member, examining whether the storylines were engaging and the characters' personalities were unique, relatable, and compelling. Disney's feedback was never about tearing down but building up—providing specific, constructive feedback to achieve the highest quality from his team.

When we use our inner Critic, we look carefully at our work and thinking. We ask questions, question assumptions, identify weak spots, and uncover areas for improvement, all in the pursuit of excellence. This helps us aim higher and do better in our work. The Critic doesn't just find problems; it helps us fix them and make our work stronger.