Take Your Daily Creativity Vitamin

OK, well there isn't really a creativity vitamin that I know of, but there is something you can "take" everyday to enhance your overall vitality and well-being:  a daily creative practice.  My colleague Nancy Fernandez-Mills and I teach four essential self-care practices as part of our Creative Vitality Program.  Yesterday I spoke a little about nutritional practice, and today I'm focusing on the importance of a daily creative practice.  Most people recognize the importance of good nutrition.  But hardly anyone thinks that it's essential to be creative everyday.  We tend to lose sight of what all that that healthy eating is meant to do--to support us in creating a vibrant and fulfilling life.  Everything we do to keep ourselves healthy is in service of expressing who we truly are.  And that's what creativity really means: Expressing ourselves in ways that are meaningful to us.  For some it might be art, but for the majority of us, creativity doesn't involve formal artistic work such as painting.  Creativity might mean expressing ourselves through dancing, sewing, gardening, cooking, decorating a room, teaching a skill to others...  The possibilities are endless. 

There are lots of things that can get in the way of expressing ourselves creatively.  The most common block to creativity is that we may simply think we aren't creative.  We may think that the only truly creative people are those who demonstrate some high level of artistic talent.  But in fact we are all born creative.  It's in our collective DNA.  For instance, when we're children, we all draw as a way of expressing ourselves.  But as we grow older, we lose our innate sense of creative potential. Picasso famously said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." 

So our first challenge is to believe that we are creative, and open ourselves to forms of creative expression that resonate with our hearts and souls.  The second obstacle to being more creative is the idea that creativity is a "nice to have," not a "need to have".  We think it’s optional, when in fact creativity is a necessity.  Expressing ourselves is our way of making our mark on the world.  What we create not only fulfills us personally in the present moment; it is our legacy to family, friends, and community.

My first art teacher (who taught a class titled “So You Think You Can’t Draw”) gave us homework to draw each day for five minutes.  Anybody, he insisted, can find five minutes a day to pick up a pencil and sketch.  So my challenge to you is to find five minutes a day to do something creative. Experiment with a new recipe. Write a two-line poem. Make up a crazy dance to your favorite music.  If you find yourself spending 10 or 15 minutes instead of five, that’s good, too.  And if you’re looking for help in becoming more consistently creative, check out Leah Kolidas’ Creative Every Day Challenge.   It is a brilliant and highly supportive online community for sharing your creative journey with others. 

Meanwhile, leave a comment about your favorite ways to be creative!

Comments

[leah]

Great post! And thanks so much for the mention!

I believe everyone is creative and I love sharing the journey with others through the challenge.

[Kathy (thevitalwoman.net)]

Leah, thanks for taking the time to comment. I meet so many people who yearn to be creative but never give themselves permission to make it important in their lives. I am in awe of what you have done in creating an authentic community to provide visibility and support to “everyday creatives.” And I encourage everyone I know to go to your site. It’s a visual treat in and of itself!

[sheila]

Your art teacher was very very smart. Anything that encourages growth and learning at that age is just wonderful! And this is an all around great post.