The Power of Creativity
Hello, my fellow dreamers! "Life is a great big canvas. Throw all the paint on it you can." —Danny Kaye Have you ever had those days when you felt stuck in the same old same old and wondered how to get me a pick-me-up? When did you wish you had more passion and purpose in life, or maybe just a jolt of joy to shake things up a little? There is something that is always on your fingertips. Something we all have to instantaneously make us happy at this moment. That, my friend, is called creativity! It's the process of having original ideas that have value. Creativity is not just for artists. Creativity is LIFE IN THE MAKING! It’s anything that invigorates us, or offers us simple, everyday pleasure and joy. For myself, I love to write, craft, bake, and crochet while watching my favorite TV show. I like the excitement I get when I try a new recipe and it turns out awesome or the feeling I get when I dance to Body Groove with Misty Tripoli. All of us have something that we enjoy doing, and ALL of us have a creative side. Sometimes this can get lost in our daily lives and we don’t make time for the things that bring us that sense of excitement. But the things we enjoy are far more important than we could ever realize and make a significant impact on our lives. If we are doing the things we love, we relish in the moment. Being present with myself turns up my knob of attention and wakes me up. Creativity stimulates us to be more mindfully in tune with our overall lives and the universe that surrounds us. I know I speak of the universe a lot, but I'm so in tune with nature, and the 4 seasons, how they change and how they make me feel. It allows me to tap into my creative side more and it gives me much inspiration. Simply put, when we are doing something we enjoy, we are connecting to our inner self. The more we connect to ourselves, the more we're able to connect with others and deepen our relationships. Because we are more fulfilled, the less we need others to fulfill us. Our happiness is our own and it expands. As children, we could create anything with our imagination and have fun with it without worrying about what other people thought. We could sing out loud in the car or let our stuffed animals have a tea party. As children, we are all free in one way or another without barriers. Creativity returns us to the innocence of our childhood. It gives us a break from the pressures of our adult responsibilities. Think of your creativity as the current of the river trying to find the sea. It always leads to bigger waters. Even the smallest creative project might open up to bigger possibilities. We never know where it may lead. Several years ago I decided to research and create my own line of organic skin care products. What started out to be nothing more than Christmas gifts, soon turned into a small home business. I'm still making and selling these products today. But for me, it's the pure excitement and joy I get when someone tells me they love my products and that their skin feels amazing! Creativity is also wonderful for lifting depression. If we are doing something we love without the self-judgments we put on ourselves, our mood lifts because we are doing it out of pure delight and joy. It's giving ourselves the PERMISSION to do what we love and the more we engage, the more our spirits fly. That's how I feel every time I write a great blog. Just knowing that my words can somehow inspire others. My mood always lifts when I'm creating something just for my own gratification. I see my sister, Resi, do this every year. She lives for planting season! I've watched her transform her yard into a beautiful paradise. And I've watched her grow and harvest her vegetable garden to help feed her family the best life has to offer. Each time we begin on fresh, new territory, we are traveling on a new journey. And creativity has an awesome way of changing things up! Even the mundane things like cooking or learning a new crochet stitch bring a new experience — a new perspective on life and what you can achieve. Creativity gets you "out of your head". When we are doing something we enjoy, we are focused on the ACT OF BEING CREATIVE. You will be amazed at your intuition. Listen to that voice whispering in your ear. That's the beauty of creativity. It might be telling us to try a new recipe, sign up for an art class, or maybe a creative writing class. When we listen to ourselves it will add some sparkle in your life and make you feel alive. Creativity also builds character and we feel better about ourselves. This very simple act of "showing up" builds our confidence and makes us into stronger individuals. The more we make pleasurable, creative acts a priority, the more we strengthen and grow. Teach your children that it's important to be creative! You can be creative together. Every time I sit down to write, I feel proud that the ink is flowing through my fingers and meeting my blank page head on. To sit and write inspiring words to share with the world is my greater sense of gratitude. The more we cultivate what we love, the more LOVE we accumulate. Our cups will overflow! There are going to be days when we show up to do the things that we love and things go wrong. The paint spills, your cookies burn because you forgot to set the timer, or your words just don't flow onto the paper. We don't need to worry about how it's going to turn out — we simply do it for the wonder, the excitement, and the discovery. Your heart will expand and your love will abound to the people around you, and this spreads out into your entire life. Remember, creativity is a way of living life that embraces originality and uniqueness. It's about living life as a JOURNEY into seeing and communicating the extraordinariness of the simplest, most everyday acts. Use your prowess and your talents and see where it takes you. You might just be surprised! "Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risks." —Yo-Yo-Ma Have you read my article about The Stubborn Heart and the Impossible Dream? Read the full article
