"Sunrise on a New Day" Collage
“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life”. Elizabeth Gilbert
I find that at this time of year I become more aware of what a wonderful blessing it is to be able to transport thought and feeling to paper in the form of visual art. When we're stressed, our thinking can become more rigid, finding something to feel gratitude for can help us feel more present and grounded.
The world is constantly changing faster than ever. All around us we are experiencing things we've never seen before. We are being impacted by the dualities of life. The creative process allows us, either consciously or subconsciously, to work through those problems and stresses, connect with our true thoughts, and find resolutions. It becomes a mirror to our mind. There is such a wide range of opportunities, techniques, and styles that allow our creative spirit to flow: visual art, literature, dramas, dance, music.
It is through these opportunities that we can find a fresh perspective on a situation or problem and come up with some innovative solutions. It gives us the ability to express ourselves when there are no words to do it.
Without the creative element, art would be limited to mere reproduction of reality. It would lack depth and the capacity to inspire and provoke thought. Creativity inspired by our imagination offers a unique means of expression. It allows us to convey those complicated emotions and ideas that words sometimes fail to capture.
“Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else has ever thought.” Albert Einstein
It’s not only the ability to be creative for which we should be thankful, but for all the things that give us inspiration. We see things that inspires us, then express our feelings and insights about them in a unique way. We then hope the viewer can see something new in that subject that they might have overlooked, and feel something they did not before.
The creative process and all that inspires us are frequently overlooked when counting our blessings. Family, friends, food, and home are part of our usual list, but there are so many intangible things in our lives that we should include when giving thanks.
To turn this around, gratitude can increase our creativity. Scientific studies have proven that there is a link between gratitude and creative problem-solving. When we experience positive emotions, we enhance our ability to solve problems and come up with more ideas for action. (Deepak Chopra). Gratitude, like joy and contentment, encourages us to broaden our outlook and construct new ideas. We as “creatives” have so much to be thankful for.
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” Kurt Vonnegut
I wish everyone reading this a Happy Thanksgiving. I am most grateful for your being part of the “Creative Spirit” community. Carolyn
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