“For art and joy go together, with bold openness, and high head, and ready hand-fearing naught, and dreading no exposure.” James Abbot McNeill Whistler.
I am so grateful for my creative spirit. Because it is about living life as a journey. It is seeing and communicating the simplest of things in an extra ordinary way. We all look, but we don’t always see. I am grateful for the ability to look, see deeply, and then create. We often think about creativity as making something, but in fact, the root meaning of the word means to grow. There is so many blessings that come from being creative.
Creative activities help us acknowledge and celebrates our own uniqueness and diversity. They encourage our self-expression; a way to create something from personal feelings and experiences. Being creative gives us the opportunity to try out new ideas, explore new ways of thinking about things and solve problems, not only artistically but in all areas of our lives.
It also helps us see things from various perspectives and better deal with uncertainty. Studies have shown that creative people are better able to live with uncertainty because they can adapt their thinking to allow for the flow of the unknown. Creative people find ways around obstacles because they see them not just as roadblocks but also as opportunities.
“Mirrored Image” Pastel over Watercolor
If you are a person who says you are not creative let me share some more specific benefits of redeveloping that side of your life. As I have said many times in the blog, we are all born creative. It’s taking the chance to redevelop that side if you, if you feel you have lost it.
We can become better problem solvers. Obstacles and challenges throughout life are inevitable. However, when we make creativity a habit, we continue to learn new, resourceful ways of solving problems in our artwork, and in life.
We get to connect with interesting people. When we create, we connect to other people doing the same type of things, and an instant sense of community is formed. Whether we’re exchanging ideas, providing feedback for our peers, or simply creating next to each other in silence, the sense of “connectivness” experienced as creative beings is undeniably rewarding.
We develop a sense of self awareness and self-expression. Creativity is the route to authenticity. As we create, we plumb the depths of our being, accessing what we think and believe. The more we create, the more we discover and realize our habits, impulses, and desires. When we take the time and energy to develop our own ideas, we respect our inner nature and we are better able to express ourselves to the world on a regular basis.
We develop a sense of freedom. There is no right or wrong way to be creative. When we create, we are given the opportunity to engage with the world without judging ourselves. We have permission to take risks, try new things, and strip away inhibitions in a healthy way.
It is a way to relieve stress. Creating something can be meditative. Taking the time to use our hands, minds, and energy by doing something we love is important. Being creative gives us a sense of accomplishment and reduces our level of stress which in turn improves the quality of our life.
We can save monetarily. We learn how to make things ourselves. Find solutions to problems that don’t require going out to spend money. We learn how to re-purpose.
We bring joy to others. Others appreciate seeing what we create. And, if we are lucky, some will even what to own it and make it a permanent part of their life.
During this season of Thanksgiving, let us give some thought to the gift we were freely given at birth…creativity: Develop it, use it, and share it with the world.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo Picasso
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