Awaken the joy of creativity
Numerous people, be it a client, a colleague or a friend, have asked me a similar question: am I creative? I always answer with a resounding “YES!” The confidence in this answer comes from studying, understanding, practicing, observing, and participating in my own creative process for over a decade. I have discovered two very simple things: nothing teaches you more about creativity than your constant exploration and experience of it in your own life and what we all seek are the tools to bring about our own joy and creative lifestyle!
“The oak sleeps in the acorn… dreams are the seedlings of realities.”
-James allen
In the acorn there is a whole forest: within us there is a forest of individual thoughts, ideas, dreams and visions waiting to become reality. What clouds our understanding is knowing how to access that “forest” of individual thoughts, ideas, dreams and visions.
When we think of being creative, what often comes to mind are the tools or outlets for creativity, however, painting, drawing, music, book or film are the outlets through which creativity is created. express creativity. Just as the map is not the territory, the art form is not creativity. Creativity is energy; it is an invisible and inexpressible substance that drives our thoughts, ideas, visions, dreams, actions and, ultimately, our results. Energy, life force or creativity, whatever you want to call it, name it or refer to it, we all speak of the same essence and quality.
At any time in life, this amazing and usable power is available to us. It is not only valuable, but also critical to our sustenance to define and engage in a relationship with the creative source within us. The relationship or frequent visits to the “forest” is the access to creative wisdom. While many have used meditation, chanting, running, drumming, and a variety of other methods or approaches to awaken, communicate, and expand relationship, you must discover your own unique approach to accessing and using creative power.
We express or use creativity through action and form and our results are achieved through pleasurable activity. Your environment or environment must be permeated with inspiration, otherwise NOTHING HAPPENS. Creativity cannot exist in stressful and negative conditions. Find a quiet place. Stop for a moment and look around you. Everything you see, touch, feel, taste and hear is a sign, a message, an idea, a symbol or an icon created by a creative mind. It reflects an inner creative world that is also available to you. Listen carefully and look closely: what you perceive is the human creative spirit.
When I first explored and defined what creativity meant to me, it took a few drafts, but I was able to distill the essence into one word that became the name of my business. It is the skill, art and practice of turning visions into reality. It is thinking, speaking and acting based on love; is to transform my work into a labor of love. When you look at the origin of the word creativity, you find another dynamic quality. Creativity is bringing something into existence through a course of action, behavior, and imagination.
Now is your turn. Take out a piece of paper and write your own personal definition of creativity. How does creativity feel? How do you experience it in your life? What are its qualities and what does it evoke? What kind of image do you associate with it, what sound does it make, and does it have a tactile quality color or smell? Write everything that comes to mind. There are numerous qualities that you can attribute to creativity; choose the qualities that give you the most joy.
Pay attention and extract the essence and personal meaning. Become deeply involved in defining creativity, and over time, your observations will become the visual and spoken language that fuels your creative projects, such as books, paintings, or music. Your observations will also illuminate patterns and themes that are valuable to you, such as nature, community, or adventure; themes that you can continue to express through various artistic forms.
“Art teaches us nothing except the meaning of life.”
-Henry Miller
I have touched briefly here on a theme that is an exploration of all of life and a means of understanding the meaning of life: an eternal and inexhaustible quest.
Wishing you the courage to live the life of your dreams, honoring and allowing the depths of your heart to shape your actions and destiny.