Not every creative act is equal.

There are many times where we employ our creativity in a practical sense. We use our skills to solve a problem or to serve someone else’s needs. This is a kind of utilitarian creativity.

There are other times when we use our creativity in a generative sense. Our judgement and skills meet our sense of curiosity and wonder. There are fewer rules and broader horizons. This becomes a more expressive mode of creativity.

One mode is not better than the other; we need both. But each feeds us differently. Finding the proper balance is wise.