A recent survey has found that Americans may not be as superficial as some on social media would like you to believe, with a majority of the country saying they would like to be remembered most of all for their creativity.
The survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Sharpie® and Paper Mate® found that 31% of Americans would rather leave their mark through creativity than any other trait. The other top traits listed included intelligence (20%), wealth (14%), and humanitarian efforts (10%).
While the survey sought to understand what legacy Americans wanted to leave, it also found out more about how they view themselves, with 79% of respondents saying they considered themselves creative, compared to 5% who don’t.
However, even though a high number think they are creative, 72% wish they still engaged in creative activities more than they currently do.
The poll found that some use creative outlets to combat stress they face in their lives, with 14% writing, 12% painting, and 10% doodling.
When asked to define what “creative” meant, the poll found that 65% defined it as either “expressing yourself” or “coming up with new ideas.” Additionally, 43% associated the word with artistic ability.
Gina Lazaro, the Vice President of Brand Management for Sharpie and Paper Mate, shared in the survey that even though people feel creative, they need confidence.
“It’s inspiring to see just how many Americans consider themselves creative, though it’s clear that there is more creativity to be unleashed,” Lazaro said.
The poll found that 18% of respondents engage in creative activities every day, while 37% said they do so weekly. These are numbers that Lazaro says could increase.
“Results revealed that an astounding 77% of respondents admit they’d be more inclined to explore their creativity if they were more confident in their abilities,” said Lazaro. “Whether it’s simple activities like doodling on the margins of a paper or adding color to your calendar, creative confidence can be built in small ways on an everyday basis.”
The survey included responses from 2,000 adults and was conducted from Dec. 21-25.