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