A Labor of Love: Reflections on a Research Career, with Love

In this reflection on my career researching creativity, I describe key turning points in my intellectual development, in the direction of my empirical and theoretical work, and in my growing understanding—along with the field’s understanding—of the complexities of creativity. I acknowledge the crucial roles played by many mentors, collaborators, colleagues, students, and family members, as well as the crucial roles played by my critics and “intellectual irritants” over the years. I highlight the importance of confident humility for researchers in any field, and express gratitude for the people and institutions that enabled me to engage in my labor of love all these years.