The Power of Creativity is a Choice

Start a daily project: Taking time to paint, cook, write or whatever floats your boat.

Doing creative things helps you be present in the moment and aware of what you are doing.

Activities and projects done with intention make us more mindful and in tune with everyday life.

We then don’t miss the ‘small stuff’ or the details which can be a great source of material. 

I take notes and photographs on my wee rambles out and about and get great joy in putting them all together.

It’s amazing how difficult it can be to allow ourselves to ‘take time’ as we can get distracted by ‘busyness’.

And, the more you use your power to create, the more you develop an attitude of accomplishment which helps you want to create more.

The power of belief: To live creatively is a choice. Oftentimes the creativity of our childhood was squelched by traditional schooling many of us older people experienced.

You can retrieve that creativity. Nourish it tenderly as you might have wanted it to be nourished and encouraged.

It’s still there.

Do or find something you love: something you love to create connects you to yourself on an intimate level.

The more you connect with yourself the more you can share with others. You’re more fulfilled, happier and have healthier relationships.

Brainstorm: Come up with ideas and ways of making your life fun and enjoyable. Do something that you want to do and that makes you feel fulfilled.

Some people suggest finding ways to make you happy but committing to a creative path can take a ton load of hard work. Be prepared to do the hard lifting at times.

Be playful: You enjoy life more when you allow yourself to be creative and return to play.

There’s less pressure from responsibilities, you’re sillier and happier and find pleasure in the little things.

Yes, do the hard graft but you don’t need to be a demented, starving artist in an attic. 

Use what you have: Tell your story. We all have one. Share it with others. Take photographs. Write your poems. 

“You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.”

Irish Proverb

Your gift is in the sharing, not hiding them away because your self-critical eye judges them not worth sharing. 

Write letters: Katie Viego reminds us in her article ‘The Art and Etiquette of Letter Writing’, 

“We’ve simply forgotten that without written messages our stories and sentiments will be lost forever.”

The excitement we older ones experienced getting a hand-written letter from the postman remains a fond memory. It as an art we can retrieve with a little time, a pen, writing paper, an envelope and a stamp. Simples.

Create space: Getting rid of things that don’t matter to you anymore or are just not needed is a good way to clear the clutter in your personal space and make room for your creativity space whichever medium you plan to use. 

Inspire others: Creativity is a mindset that anyone can adopt. Choose to share your gifts with the world so others can be inspired to create too.

Too often we can be held back by polishing something we have created over and over again.

Da Vinci  said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.”

For him, everything was art; for us, this means that any endeavour  we pursue is our ‘art’.

Of course, we should strive to constantly seek to improve upon our work but there comes a stage where we should be prepared to “abandon” that piece and move on to something else.

Be Vulnerable: I don’t know about you but one of my biggest stumbling blocks is the need or want to be perfect. I have learned to acknowledge it and press on regardless.

Did I mention the fear of criticism? Or, tendency to compare my standard of work with other writers?

Disregard the voice (you know the one I mean) and create anyway.