Hi! Welcome to the 4 CreativeWheels newsletter — your weekly dose of insights on creativity and fuel for your creative journey.

Behold, Week #38 is here! And we’re in the second half of 2025. I appreciate you being here as always. We are still experimenting with topics that relate to both creatives and human beings in general. Similarly to our last publication, I've been reflecting on multiple topics. I still can't help but share my thoughts with you.

In this week's issue, we will explore the common fallacy in complexity and how simplicity can actually foster creativity.

The simpler something is, the more creative it can be. There is a misconception about how complexity relates to sophistication and even creativity. It leads people to have a high view of complexity. Unfortunately, this view can be visible in society at large. And that hinders the way we work. The better road is in simplicity.

Without further ado…

Let’s start the ride!

Main Wheel

The simpler something is, the more creative it can be. There is a misconception about how complexity relates to sophistication and even creativity. It leads people to have a high view of complexity. Unfortunately, this view can be visible in society at large. And that hinders the way we work. The better road is in simplicity.

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a friend of mine. We were discussing the need for an anti-virus when it comes to Linux. I inquired with her, as I know she is much more knowledgeable than I on that front. She did not disappoint. My friend evaluated each Linux distro she knows.

As she was evaluating them, she pointed out that there is one version that works relatively better than another. Yet, the lesser version, which is perceived to be more powerful, possesses complex features and options. It did not make sense.

So, when my friend wondered why they did that, I began to deliberate on it as well. Why would you make something complex? Or why would you frame something to seem more complex? I came up with an answer.

She jokingly read my answer with an interesting mix of European accents. Then, she paused and said, "This is actually good. I'll save this." I was glad to hear that. Her reply incited me to reread my answer, and I needed to reflect on it.

My answer was, "Complexity can fool people because it masquerades people's perception of the thing to be more sophisticated than it actually is." The more I thought about that, the more I realized it's no surprise. It's pretty evident.

Society is constructed on what humans value and have agreed upon. The ones in charge of that are mostly adults. It makes perfect sense that adults then need to value what is critical. For one reason or another, among the essentials they have chosen, they picked seriousness. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in "Le Petit Prince" noticed and pointed out that, "Adults love being serious." If something is serious, then it needs attention and has a higher value.

The puzzle is that seriousness can vary. To save time and energy, adults use perception to indicate what is serious. They give attention then to what is deemed as serious. The most prominent way for something to be perceived as serious is how much effort it takes.

That is why adults want their actions to exhibit effort. More efforts mean more seriousness. Hence, the thing will have more attention and value. Complexity tends to require more effort. So, complexities are a gateway to a better status.

In contrast, when something is simple, it is clear. You don't have to be a genius to take note of it. On the surface, there is no potential effort one can put into understanding the simple thing. That perceived lack of effort veers people's attention away from the thing.

Again, no visible efforts applied equate to less seriousness. Then, the "best" route to take is to seek the "serious" complex thing. The thing that is worth paying attention to. However, even when there seems to be little effort to be made in the simple, that does not mean it actually is the case. There can be depth in the simple thing.

In theory, everyone agrees with this thought. Simplicity can hold depth. Yet, in practice, people, especially adults, chase the complexities. They want what appears to be worthwhile, even though it might not be as efficient as the other option.

This is not to say that complexities lack depth. Some complex things are necessary. The complicated things about something might be the core that runs everything. But for the majority, the simpler it is made to be, the better. It does not signify that they will be easy.

Simplicity does not equal ease. Simplicity orients us to better clarity and comprehension. And with the appropriate time and patience, clarity and comprehension lead to ease, completion, and even progress.

The temptation to be or seem complex is not limited to certain people. We all have it or have faced it. Frankly, we might face it in the future. The temptation can come stronger in our use of creativity. The deceitful thought of "The more complex it is perceived, the more creative it might be" will emerge. And that can derail us from what truly matters. What matters is the work, its purpose, and its goals.

A marionette with many complex strings can look impressive. The spectators would see the marionette and correlate its guise to the puppeteer's level of expertise. That would be good for the puppeteer. Yet, when it would come to performing with that marionette, the puppeteer would encounter multiple problems.

The strings can get entangled, twisted, and so on. The work would not be good. The performance would not be impactful (you can already hear the boos). Even if the strings do not get twisted and entangled, the puppeteer would be so occupied with maintaining the marionette with all its strings that the puppeteer wouldn't be capable of demonstrating well the message, story, or show. This performance, again, would not be good.

On the other hand, a marionette with simple strings does not look that impressive. The spectators would see it, shrug, and just wait for the show. There is not much expectation. The simplicity of the marionette's strings encompasses the critical movements. There is a focus on what the marionette cannot do.

It gives more space to make interesting movements while remaining in the stability that the simple strings provide. This allows the puppeteer to be as creative as they can be and perform smoothly and efficiently. In this case, the work would be good. The performance would be memorable. And the audience would leave amazed.

Creativity works best when the intentions are open and distractions are invisible. The more absent, distractive, and inessential elements are, the more the core value of the work is grasped. It's in simplicity that this framework can thrive.

One's process could be complex. The result can have complexities here and there. That can happen. The use of creativity occurs in varied forms. Still, you have to look at your work, whatever it might be, and think, "Is this what it needs or do I need it to be?" Then, you reflect, observe each part of the work, and ask, "Is this part truly necessary? Or does it seem to be needed?"

The answers will shed light on the clear needs. Whatever that is not genuinely necessary has to be refined or removed. By doing so, you save yourself from the mask in complexities. That mask can make you seem serious and sophisticated. Yet, it will stuff your work. However, when you remove that mask, you forge a path for greater growth. Complexity is performative. Simplicity is (contrary to performative) and is the road to creativity.

Inspiring Wheels

Here are two (or more) creative works that you’ll not regret checking out:

• "Why No one is sharing your art (It's deeper than you think)" - val | There are works you come across and love instantly. It’s the type of work that propels you to pause and reflect on something you knew but now can see from a different angle. It gives you a perspective you’ve never thought to consider. They are pieces that make you love the creative. This video is one of such pieces.

• "The Strange Freedom Of Knowing Nothing" - Gawx | He simply cannot miss. This is a wonderful piece about leaving your comfort zone and trying something new. My words cannot do this justice. You just gotta watch it.

Want to share this issue of 4CW with a friend, colleague,… any human being? Just copy and paste this link: https://4creativewheels.beehiiv.com/p/july-3-2025 😉 😃

Thank you so much for reading! 

As always, feel free to reply to this email & share your thoughts, stories, and any experience related to this topic. I’d love to hear them!  

C ya next Week! 

Embracing Creativity™,

Richard M.

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