When creativity is understood properly, it's easy to see why conflict seems to have a positive effect. War presents problems. Creativity solves problems in new ways.

The invention of the Internet having to do with US defense funding is no coincidence. The space race was thought of as part of a battle between powerful empires. Perhaps the most terrifying invention of all is the nuclear bomb, capable of carrying out levels of destruction equal to a battle with one device. 

I'm writing about this now because I have recently been feeling a lack of creativity.

I thought that I what I needed was rest. I need to recover, I would tell myself. I'm too tired. The grind is getting to me.

But now I understand. I wasn't being creative because I was ignoring some battle. 

Sometimes my battles are simple, like "make a game". Sometimes they are different and more difficult. One classic difficult battle for me was when I developed ulnar nerve neuropathy, which is basically tingling in my funny bones. When I got it, I was working at In N Out. I knew I literally physically could not continue to work there. I already wanted to leave, but after the nerve damage, I had to. So I got serious and that seriousness led me to programming and IT. To this day, my nerves have not healed; if I hold a phone or a game controller up for too long, my arms fall asleep and I have to set it down. Yet I still lift 4-5 times a week, and my strength improvements have progressed to the Advanced level and gotten me into the Thousand Pound Club at 165lbs bodyweight.

The key mentality I had was always this: this isn't a battle I asked for, but it's a battle I'm going to win nonetheless.

So, right now, when things feel tough, and I feel uninspired, I know that I have to press forward, get creative, and fight back. I don't know exactly what the solution is. That's where creativity comes in. 

But I know that merely resting will not win the battle.