Creativity is described as the use of imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of any artistic work. The word, artistic, is what makes people believe they are not creative. It's not exclusive to art forms only. We were all once children, imagining, creating, solving, and inventing. These skills just don't leave us. We get older and life and circumstances push our imagination to the back of our subconscious. We are creative artists, storytellers, writers, business owners, entertainers, visionaries...the list goes on. I want to share with you all how I found my creative energy field and learned to master it and how it has changed my life.
Quick story: While working at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center as a Transplant Assistant, I had the luxury (😒) of creating the agenda for an extremely important weekly meeting for the entire transplant surgery team! Every week, the head surgeon of the transplant surgery team was noticeably aggravated with my attempts at the agenda. No matter how hard I worked on that meeting, it just seemed too never be good enough. We hired a new transplant assistant, and she gladly accepted the challenge of taking charge of this meeting. Within a couple months, that uninterested surgeon was praising her on doing such a great job with the meeting agenda. Organization was her creative skill. This is just an example that being creative isn't always related to arts and crafts.
Be brave. I remember being afraid of my potential. Actually, not even knowing or understanding my potential. So, I just got started. I was making candles and bracelets. I know, weird combination, but I was just putting myself out there. One lady called my bracelets, trash, on Facebook. Embarrassing but, I didn't want to stop. And I wasn't. I kept going and kept challenging myself. It's been 3 years and I still get a little nervous when I showcase my creativity, but I cannot allow others' lack of vision to determine mine.
Below is a link to my 2nd viral video. The comments were so discouraging 😫 (I deleted most of them) but it's unrealistic to expect everyone to love and support all my work. The lesson was: Be brave, keep going.
Challenge yourself. Tap into your creative energy by learning a new skill or enhancing your already established skills. We are all capable of learning new things. We work various jobs, continue education, start families, relocate, and naturally adapt to the lives we've created.
No matter how much you babysat as a teenager, understanding parenting didn't really happen until you became a parent. You had no clue how to complete tasks at your new job, but with proper training, you're an expert that now, trains other employees. Dedicate time and energy needed. This is what challenges do for us all. Read, watch videos, or listen to topics related to a skill or skills.
Spend time alone in silence. Quieting the mind and connecting with the present to access a deeper space where our higher selves reside. Our creative and inspiring thoughts are honored during this quiet time. Quiet thoughts feel like promotions and gains, new perspectives will come to you in the most peaceful manner. Have you ever had an 'Aha' moment while out with friends? Even though the conversations are loud and there's a lot going on, you still had a quick silent moment in your head that generated this idea out of nowhere. You tuned into silence without even realizing it.
Get emotional. I didn't realize my creative potential until I was at my lowest, saddest point in life. I was angry with myself and my decisions and my circumstances. This led to a major breakdown which ultimately led to a major breakthrough. Our emotions are here to guide us, not control us. I always wonder what would be of me if I never just let it all out? How sad I would still be, continuously living in a vicious cycle of no fulfilment. The breakdown helped me learn to process my emotions and focus my energy creatively. Some of my most creative work and ideas are when I'm in my most vulnerable state. Lashing out never felt so good!
Fear of failure, or the unknown? I've always had a hard time understanding why people consider it 'fear of failure'. We are afraid of the unknown. We have become so accustomed to things going wrong, focusing on the bad, or just doing the same things over and over that we don't realize we are in failure mode by considering it failure instead of a learning curve. Unleashing creativity in one area can open so many doors for our mind and spirit, thus expanding our range of growth. It just takes one leap. Dig into your creativity knowing the best results are at the end. The unknown has a way of showing us what we're really made of. 😉
Journal. Write those ideas down. Write what prompted the ideas. What were you thinking about? How was your day? Who was near you? Were you alone? What was on television? Was there a song playing? These factors play a significant role in the creative process and sometimes we go back to those specific places, physical and mental, to gain access to this creative flow often. I'm inspired when I go to the beach, so I journal how the ride to and from the beach felt, how the sand felt on my toes, how the sun felt on my skin, or how pretty and fluffy the clouds were. The entire experience is noted. Journaling is also a great way to track your process, reflect, and bookmark if you happen to lose inspiration.
The first step for me was recognizing that I am capable of being creative, embracing it, and wanting to grow in it and it became more than arts and crafts. When I moved from Ohio to Alabama with no plan, I depended on my creativity more than I realized.
I arrived at my hotel job interview an hour early and sat in the car just thinking (spend time alone in silence). I used my creative mind to get what I needed...somewhere to stay...for free. The interview was great, so I added that I just moved to the area and needed a place to stay. The managers agreed that me and my family could live there as long as we needed. I remember feeling so anxious (emotional), not knowing how they would respond to such a request (fear of the unknown), and how it was such a challenge for me to be vulnerable with complete strangers. Whenever I need a little creative motivation, I read my journal entries from around the time of the big move to reflect and gain inspiration.
Do you agree with some or all of the above-mentioned tips? Have you realized your creative potential? What are some tips you would add to the discussion? We'd love to hear from you!
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