Why?
The most significant choice that we can make in today’s society is what to be — a Consumer or a Creativist.
The choice
Consumer is the position that our current society wants us to adopt. This default way of being is now so entrenched that “consumers” is now a default label for people. It means accepting a passive role in our life, one in which we seek fulfillment and meaning outside ourselves - without stopping to think that our life will only have meaning when we create meaning for it. That our lives will only be fulfilled when we were fulfilling our talents and potential. And being consumers has implications not only for us as individuals, but for the planet that we are dependent on and, in our consuming hunger, are depleting and damaging.
So what’s the alternative? To be a Creativist: To reclaim the right to our individual identities; To be active in shaping and in creating our lives from the inside out; To fulfill our need to create which is part of all of us. And, once we are reconnected to our own identities, we can connect with and be part of our communities and act collectively.
Where we are now
Throughout the various stages in our lives - upbringing, education, work - we have been taught to be obedient citizens - or good consumers. The education system is focused on passing exams, not helping us to discover our passions. And then we leave education, and the only sensible thing to do seems to be to fit into a box, with a title, in an organisation.
We are left lacking meaning. So, we look for entertainment outside of ourselves, either in the form of new products (TVs , clothes, cars, houses etc) or new services (massages, resorts, theatres etc). Then we have to earn more to pay for what we are consuming, and so the cycle continues.
But the various crises which we are facing today, from economic to environmental, are seriously impacting our ability to, well…… to consume. People have less money available to spend, i.e. consume. From a sustainability point of view we have reached the tipping point. Our footprint is such that we from now on we only negatively impact the earth’s capability to regenerate itself. More consumption means more damage to the place that gives us life. And we don’t trust our leaders to be able to create solutions - whether political, business, scientific or religious.
We have to have an alternative. And the alternative is us.
The alternative
More and more people are rejecting the identity of being a consumer, and are reclaiming their identities and creating an alternative life. They may be choosing to step outside the boundaries of a 9-5 job, (or a 12-hour-a-day job which leaves them no time to lead their own life). They may be seeking to increase their self-sufficiency and growing their own food - and having fun whilst doing it. They may be taking the initiative and making things happen in their community, no longer willing to leave it to so-called leaders.
This is a growing movement, with people sharing same the values and commitment to expressing and living their intrinsic values:
- freedom to follow their passions and their joy
- freedom to contribute to their community
- and, on a personal level, freedom to love and be loved
This is a growing movement, but it is not a movement which is united at the moment - and which is not named. And without an identity for the movement, it is easy for the consumer identity to remain the dominant force in society.
Therefore, the Creativist Society brings people together, who want to take responsibility for the way that they think, feel and act. A creativist is fully in charge of his or her own life, deals responsibly with the Earth’s resources and actively contributes to society. In essence, this is an active way of living and working. It is a life based on creating and connecting and acting.
The Creativist Society is a platform which helps people in the transformation from being consumers into being creativists. We help to raise the awareness that there is an alternative, we enable you to develop new beliefs and behaviors and we sustain each other. And when we all start to create and connect and act together, we will increase the power of our voice and the strength of our impact. To create a new future.
Are you a part of this movement? Please get in touch if you would like to contribute to this growing community - in whatever way best fits with your passions, skills and interests.
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