Seeking a Creative Life

For many, creativity is somewhat of a mystery. We vaguely understand the concept.

According to the dictionary, creativity is the imagination or the creation of original ideas, especially in artistic work. That’s great, but we still don’t know how to get more creativity. 

Our imagination and the ability to generate ideas go well beyond artistic work. If you ask a neuroscientist, they’ll likely give you a long list of how creativity benefits the brain. That brain connection makes this seem scientific, yet practicing creativity can be simple, so let’s not complicate it!

Creativity Can Enrich Our Lives

There are benefits to being creative. Whether parenting children or managing a technical group, we’ll be presented with challenges requiring creative abilities. Creativity improves our problem-solving skills and gives us pure joy and satisfaction from making something.   

Our jobs are no longer a separate part of our lives the way they used to be. Our work and personal lives are becoming more and more integrated. Flexible work schedules have given us more access to lifestyle benefits if we take advantage of small opportunities. Discovering your creative side can help you grow as a person.  

Rediscover Your Creative Awesomeness 

We may have lost our creative spark somewhere along the road from childhood to adulthood, but just like physical exercise, it’s never too late to get it back. The more we practice, the more it flows. Explore, experiment, make things and try not to cry when your creative attempts go wrong. 

To be inspired, you have to get inspired. And to get inspired, you have to make it a point to do something that might lead you in that direction. Creativity doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen. 

Schedule Time. As elusive as creativity is, it does require that we put it on the calendar. Make a date with creativity. Maybe gather a few people and have someone lead the group in small, simple tasks. Have a plan and make it happen. Get your hands dirty and have fun making something.

Strive for excitement. Instead of seeking goals, find something to wake up for and be excited about. Are you doing anything for the joy of creation and not necessarily tied to money or work? When we start forgetting about the things that light our fire, we die a little inside. It’s up to us to recapture that spark. 

Feed your soul and create the environment that is critical to enriching your life and the lives of those around you.

Let’s all take a more child-like, relaxed approach to creativity. ~Maria

Finding Whimsy

It started with a comment on The Pond at Ripple Central, Steve Harper’s unique community. John, a member, shared his experience of a fun time with his granddaughters. A whimsical moment which left him feeling blessed to help create a memorable moment for them by accepting the invitation to be whimsical. He defined whimsical - being playful, having fun, and being mischievous. And his ending question: “What is a specific example of the last time that you accepted an invitation to be whimsical”? Reading his story left me feeling the need for more whimsy! It also reminded me of whimsical creative projects I’ve had so much fun with.

Photo Walkabouts - This idea started many years ago when my husband suggested we go on a photo walkabout date. We went to South Congress ( before it became so touristy) and went our own way to take photos. Afterward, we went to dinner and shared some of our favorite photos with each other. It’s one of the best date nights ever! For years after, I guided others on photo walkabouts.

Another whimsical project I really enjoyed was my Blue Sunglasses. I got the idea from a movie we watched where at the end of the movie, everyone was wearing blue sunglasses. From that, I decided I would buy one pair of blue sunglasses and just ask anyone and everyone I met if they’d allow me to photograph them with my blue sunglasses. Of course, this would always lead to a conversation and interesting stories from people I’d never met. I committed to doing this for one year. I even took it on the road to California and back. It was one of the most fun experiences I think I’ll ever have.

You never know where you’ll find your whimsy but I’m pretty sure you have a better chance of finding it when you create and accept invitations. Be open and flexible to eccentricity and unpredictability.

Thanks for the inspiration, John and Steve. It’s time for me to start a new project.

You’re invited…whimsy awaits. ~Maria

Unleashing Creativity - Riding the Flow State Wave

When your ideas flow like a river and you are on a creative roll, that is the magic of the flow state, your mind's secret superpower. What makes creativity and the flow state such an epic duo? Here are a few thoughts on that.

Imagine your brain doing the cha-cha with your imagination – that's the flow state, where everything clicks. It's like you're in this zone where ideas pour out effortlessly. People like psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi started talking about it in the '70s. It's when you're totally absorbed in what you're creating. Time? Who cares – it's like it takes a vacation.

Creativity and the flow state are BFFs. When you are super creative, you're more likely to slip into the flow. And when you're in the flow, your creativity skyrockets. It's a win-win loop of awesome.

The flow state is like the DJ of your brain, spinning the right tunes for creativity. You're so into what you're doing that your inner critic takes a nap, and you're free to let your imagination run wild. You come up with ideas that surprise even you, and your creative mojo is unstoppable.

Remember moments when you were painting, writing, or maybe even doing some coding, and hours melted away? That's the flow state at work—You're fully absorbed in the creative process, and time becomes this abstract concept. It's like you're in a parallel universe of inspiration.

So, how can you tap into this creative wonderland? First, find what makes your creative juices flow – painting, cooking, or writing weird short stories. Next, create a cozy environment where you can dive into your creativity without distractions. Set a goal for your creative session, like sketching a character or writing a paragraph. Let go of your doubts and do your thing.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you let yourself get into that creative groove, the easier it gets to slip into the flow state. Embrace failures as part of the journey – stepping stones to creative nirvana.

In a nutshell, the flow state is your creativity's secret weapon. It's where your ideas dance, and your imagination takes center stage. So, whether you're doodling on paper or cooking up a storm, ride that flow state wave and let your creativity shine like a supernova.

~Maria

The NoteBook Club

My notebook is my place to discover and unwind through creativity. Creating alone is very productive, peaceful, and meditative for me. I also know and value the energy that my creative peeps bring to the table. In the past few years, we have only gathered occasionally. I felt it was time to make this fun, structured, and consistent as I organized “The NoteBook Club”.

A friend sent me an article titled “The Hobby Loved by Teenage Girls That Could Ward Off Dementia” This excerpt caught my attention, “It's a hobby usually associated with teenage girls, glittery pens and heartbreak. But keeping a diary – or a journal – could also help older people ward off dementia, research suggests” And I’m telling you that we are never too old to sit around with others who want to share ideas, spend time in their notebooks, and be silly, bold, daring, and uninhibited in our creativity. The energy is magical and priceless! I encourage you to do the same.

Some topics discussed in our first meeting were ideas of what to include on our pages. I keep this list in my notebook as a reminder: collage art, sketches, photos, quotes and excerpts, gratitude, doodles, ideas, poems, online lessons, black-out poems, textbook art, blog post notes, and lyrics. I brought a few of my filled notebooks to show as examples. We decided to pass our notebooks around at the end of every meeting moving forward.

Inspired and grateful, ~Maria

“Inside you there’s an artist you don’t know about… say yes quickly, if you know, if you’ve known it from before the beginning of the universe.” ~Rumi

Collage Making - Keeping it Fun and Simple

I am in awe of the collage artists I follow on Instagram. Their work inspires me to keep having fun with this process. When I lead a creativity workshop, I want everyone to feel confident creating a collage with just a few elements. Beginning with the idea of simplicity can make our project more attainable. This brings me to the process. I start my collage-making process by spending time going through magazines and cutting out pieces I find interesting. I then categorize my cut-outs in a binder and label my different categories. These are my categories: Nature, People/Faces, Fashion, Objects, Words, and Paper. 

I like using the collage technique to create quick greeting cards, fun Instagram posts, or in my notebook to ignite my creative thinking. 

Collage-Making Tips

Collage making has no limits on fun using magazine cut-outs and junk mail.

• Keep a container of colorful magazines, junk mail, paper, and words.

• Categorize and organize your files of cut-outs for creating art.

• Think in layers and mix it up. Play with different style images.

• Start small. Try making a card for someone.

• Keep it simple by starting with 3-5 pieces of cut-outs.

These are a few of my pieces.

Alpha Poem

Pick a subject: a feeling, a mood, a personal story, a person, a task, a dream, etc.

Write a poem about your subject in which each successive line begins with the next letter of the alphabet. You may use single words, phrases, or sentences.

I’ve included one I did a few years ago. Just get started in a quiet space and the words will come to you. Let it flow.

Get a Hobby

I read an article about how we can bring meaning to leisure time through a hobby.

On a Zoom call one day, a friend asked how my hobby was going. I hadn’t really given it much thought, that what I do is my hobby as well as my business. I feel lucky and grateful that it is both. Presenting to small groups and teaching what I know and do best. I find meaning and joy in it and want others to find that too.

My hobby has been my life source and I’m grateful to have many creative abilities. If you don’t already have one, find a hobby that brings you as much meaning and joy as mine does.

“Ultimately, what we need to do is get out from behind the desk and the chores from time to time and create opportunities for our souls.”

— Gregg Levoy

Romeo and Juliet

I went out on my daily walk this morning and set my music to discover something new. After two rejects I was blown away by this love song. Mark Knopfler puts his heart and soul into this live performance and his song captured my heart. I played it over and over, imaging myself being there. I welcome a moment of euphoria like this and let it run through my blood for as long as this high can last. It’s magical!

My earbuds were the closest thing for the feeling of live music... moments when I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude, love, and appreciation for musicians. They are connected to an unspoken language and magic I can’t describe but they touch my heart and soul with their music like nothing else. I consider their gift to the rest of us who don’t play music or sing simply priceless.

Here are a few lyrics to entice you to listen. If not this song, then find and welcome a song that can do it for you and take it all in. ~Maria
“A lovestruck Romeo sang the streets a serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Finds a streetlight, steps out of the shade
Says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"

“…Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
And I bet, and you exploded into my heart”

“…I can't do everything but I'll do anything for you
I can't do anything except be in love with you”

Good Enough

I woke up this morning with more enthusiasm and inspiration than I’ve had in a long time and maybe that was because I forced myself to get back to my creative notebook yesterday.

I wonder how often I have ignored the call to just create one small thing…a tiny sketch a doodle, write one sentence, take one photo, or like I’m doing here…writing one short simple blog post.

In the midst of our world coming apart, it’s still our responsibility to take care of ourselves…our health, our minds, and our creative fire.

I am telling myself “this is good enough” because once I take that first step, the creative gods will guide me to the next.

Enjoy one simple creative act today and tell yourself “this is good enough.” ~Maria

Do it Every Day

“Everyone should learn to write in public. Get a blog. Use an alias if you like. Turn off comments, certainly—you don’t need more criticism; you need more writing.” ~Seth Godin

I am not at all consistent when it comes to writing on my blog so when I read this by Seth Godin, it made me think about what it is that I do with my time…consistently. That is another post for me to write.

“Do it every day. Every single day. Clear, crisp, honest writing about what you see in the world. Or want to see. Or teach (in writing). Tell us how to do something. If you know you have to write something every single day, even a paragraph, you will improve your writing. Write like you talk. Often.” Seth Godin, The Icarus Deception

In addition to the things I do consistently, I am adding writing on my blog daily, keeping it short and doable.