Creativity: The Culture Catalyst

What if our creativity is a catalyst for cultural change?

What, exactly, is a catalyst?

The word “Catalyst” is a relatively new addition to the English language. It emerged at the dawn of the 20th century as a term associated with chemistry, originating from catalysis, which refers to a change or increase in the speed of a chemical reaction in which the new agent actually retained its original chemical identity and did not change, diminish, or disappear during the reaction process. By the 1940’s, catalyst (n.) was used to refer to someone or something that quickly caused change or action in the environment around them.

In short, a catalyst is a new substance introduced into a mix of other substances, and they change, mix, or morph at a rapid rate while the new substance retains its original identity. It’s sole purpose is to induce rapid change in the chemical reaction process.

The definition of catalyst, according to Mirriam-Webster, is:

1 : a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible

2 : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action

As one who barely passed basic Chemistry in high school and who does not resonate with the meaning of this word in the traditional sense, I nevertheless hold a fascination for the mystical nature of what a catalyst can be and the power it holds in the broader, creative sense.

This broader definition is much more personal for me.

So often, when we pour something of ourselves into a project, we must part with what we have contributed, whether it is financial resources or otherwise. We have been taught that there are limits to things; energy, time, money, space, and ideas. We have this self protective mechanism that harbors a scarcity mindset and therefore we are reluctant to ‘put ourselves out there’ for fear of somehow tainting the purity of our creativity.

To this end, I submit a question: What if our creativity is a catalyst for cultural change, and therefore, cannot be adversely affected?

Additionally, as the ones from which this creativity flows, what if we ourselves are also catalysts?

What if it is possible to spark a reaction that precipitates accelerated positive change while we ourselves are not being diminished or altered in any way?

What if our contributions as creatives are the very catalysts that determine the rate of revolution for our cultural wheels of change?

Because this means that who we are and what we bring really does matter.

This, I think, is a brilliant thought.

As Creative Catalysts, we are the secret ingredient that shifts the Culture around us.

And that means you can be a catalyst for positive change, wherever you are.