Creativity. Where do you find time to explore or express creativity in your life? Do you believe that you are creative? Or is your mantra “I am not creative”.
That was my mantra for most of my life. “I am not creative.” I was terrified at being put into situations that required an artistic or creative eye or thought. I believed that being creative meant that you were good at drawing or writing music or books or……..none of the things that I did. And I linked being creative to a “product” that could be admired with being creative.
I have learned something different in the last several years and I am so grateful that I have. I realize that I have always been creative. I have been creative in the way I have approached my life and how I have experienced my life. I certainly have been creative in developing my business and my work.
I feel SOOOO alive, excited and energized when I sit down to put together material for a new workshop or to re-craft an existing workshop. I make myself my favorite cup of tea, pull out all my books, get my favorite pen in hand and then start to brainstorm and write down ideas…….I just let it flow and it all seems to just come together quite effortlessly when I am in the right space.
I am lucky that I get to be creative in my work. I also know that I need to “encourage” myself to explore my creativity and playfulness in other areas………drawing, writing, music, dance, etc. I am learning that it is ok and BETTER to just enjoy the process and experience and not be in the “is this good enough” mind. As soon as I go there, I feel afraid and shut down any possibility of allowing my creativity to bubble up and be expressed. I am still in the learning process with much of this but I have made a lot of progress.
So, where do you feel enlivened by your creativity? Do you allow yourself time to play and express yourself this way? Are you critical and judgemental about the “outcome”?
Any time is a good time to explore our creativity. I hope to continue to expand my own creativity. I am inspired by creative minds and artistic endeavors. The only thing that stops me is my own fear of not being good enough.
Take some time this week to pull out your paints, or sewing or favorite pen and see what wants to flow through you and be expressed in this world. We are all unique and each of us will express the same idea or thought in a unique manner.
Allow your playfulness to surface. We will never know what we have to bring to the world until we allow ourselves the possiblity. Put away your perfectionistic nature and dance with life like a child! Much love, to your creative spirit and mine:) melanie
Melanie, as usual you hit the nail on the head!
In general I think of myself as a creative person. But with dance, for example, I get very stuck in the feelings you describe above. I could be listening to music in the car and without trying begin to visualize some dance moves. But when it comes to actually choreographing a dance for REAL, my inner perfectionist comes to the surface and I’m blocked – fearing others criticism and opinions.
Thank you for this reminder to live more child-like, without worries of living up to external standards.
🙂
My creative juices are flowing these days in anticipation of creating a Scandinavian Christmas. We went to Denmark, Norway and Sweden in August and that is what gave me my inspiration. I loved all the white candlelight on the tables and in the windows in Sweden. I also loved the Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes (our Christmas Eve dinner:o) I’m trying to keep it simple but festive! First things first though, Happy Thanksgiving, Melanie!