10 Actions for Fueling Creativity: Face the Feelings

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What happens after a creative idea doesn't work?

In this ninth episode of the Summer 2026 Listen and Learn Series, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore Action #9 from The Future Creative: Face the Feelings.

Creativity always involves some level of uncertainty. When we try something new, there is always a chance that it will not work as planned. We often talk about failure as an important part of learning, but we don't always talk about what failure actually feels like.

In this episode, Matthew shares a personal story about a creative project that fell short of what he and others had hoped to achieve. While he was able to take responsibility for what went wrong, the emotional impact lasted much longer. Feelings of embarrassment, frustration, and disappointment influenced how he thought about taking on similar projects in the future.

That experience highlights an important part of creative learning: failure doesn't just affect what we think. It can affect what we are willing to try next.

The episode explores how students, educators, and professionals can become more cautious after experiencing failure, particularly when the experience is public or emotionally difficult. The goal is not to ignore these feelings or simply tell ourselves that failure is part of the process. Instead, we can learn to recognize and face the emotions that come with trying something new.

Matthew also encourages educators to share some of their own experiences with failure. Rather than offering students a polished message about how "failure is part of learning," educators can share the real story, including the disappointment, embarrassment, or uncertainty they experienced. Doing so can help students understand that difficult feelings are a natural part of creative work.

 

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