The Subtle Erosion of Creativity: Leonardo Freixas on Self-Censorship

In a recent LinkedIn post, Leonardo Freixas explores the often-unseen forces that can stifle creative output, arguing that creators frequently succumb to self-censorship long before external pressures fully take hold. Freixas suggests that the process of adhering to perceived boundaries, initially imposed by others, can become so ingrained that creators mistake these limitations for their own artistic taste.

The Internalization of External Boundaries

Freixas highlights a progression where creative ideas are first subjected to external review and editing. However, the more insidious phase, according to Freixas, is when the creator begins to self-edit. This internal censorship prevents ideas from even surfacing if they are perceived to fall outside an established norm. As Leonardo Freixas notes:

The idea stops at the edge
before anyone tells it to.

This self-imposed limitation, Freixas explains, can become so habitual that the boundary itself is reframed. What was once an external constraint is reinterpreted as personal preference or style. This phenomenon, Freixas argues, is a significant hurdle for genuine innovation.

When Boundaries Become ‘Style’

The core of Freixas’s argument centers on how external feedback loops can inadvertently train creators to avoid certain avenues of thought. Initially, these edits might be constructive, aimed at refining a piece for a specific audience or context. However, over time, the creator begins to anticipate these edits and preemptively modify their work. Leonardo Freixas points out the consequence:

Eventually, the frame feels natural.
You call the boundary your style.

This internalization is powerful, Freixas suggests, because it creates a false sense of personal limitation. The creator might believe they are exploring the full extent of their capabilities and preferences, when in reality, they are operating within a perimeter defined by past criticisms or perceived expectations. According to Leonardo Freixas:

A boundary becomes powerful
when you mistake it
for your taste.

The Cost of Preemptive Editing

Freixas implies that this process is not necessarily a reflection of a creator’s inherent lack of creativity, but rather a learned behavior. The initial spark of an idea might be as strong as ever, but the learned response is to curtail it before it can be fully developed or expressed. This can lead to a gradual erosion of creative risk-taking. Leonardo Freixas argues that this self-editing:

Crossing it feels like going too far.
Not because the idea did.
Because someone else taught you
where the work was supposed to end.

In essence, Freixas’s analysis serves as a cautionary note for creators and anyone involved in creative industries. It underscores the importance of being aware of how external feedback can shape internal processes and the potential for mistaking learned limitations for innate artistic boundaries. By recognizing this pattern, creators might be better equipped to push beyond self-imposed limits and foster a more authentic and expansive creative practice.