We are born artists. And then society does its best to beat it out of us. — Pablo Picasso

We are born artists. And then society does its best to beat it out of us.

Author: Pablo Picasso

Insight: There's something almost uncomfortable about this idea, because if it's true, most of us have already lost something we didn't even know we had. Think about how young children draw—they don't worry about whether the house looks "right" or the person has the correct number of fingers. They're just moving, experimenting, playing. Then somewhere between kindergarten and adulthood, we learn to be self-conscious. We start seeing rules everywhere: how things "should" look, how we "should" behave, what counts as real talent versus wasting time. The twist is that Picasso isn't really arguing for everyone to become painters. He's pointing at something deeper—the creative instinct itself, the willingness to try without needing permission. Society doesn't just discourage art; it discourages risk-taking, weird ideas, and the messy process of figuring things out. We get sorted into categories: the creative types and the practical ones, and most of us accept being on the wrong side of that divide. But here's what matters: recognizing this pattern is half the battle. That artist inside you isn't dead—it's just quiet, maybe a little embarrassed. And reclaiming it doesn't require a gallery opening. It might just mean letting yourself think sideways about a problem at work, or saying something unexpected in a conversation, or trying something badly before you try it well.