Remember the last time you really had fun? What did you do? Cut a rug on the dance floor? Go for an impromptu swim via cannon ball? Ins't the degree to which you had fun proportionate to how self conscious you were?
Being creative has a high likelihood in resulting in fun. That is if you can quiet the critical voices in your head long enough to lose yourself in a project. In this case, take a lesson from kids: explore something new, eyes wide and with excitement, as though this next project will be a blast. There's a reason why kids can approach creative activities like that... And it's because the critical voices haven't yet found home in their minds. Simply thinking about how you would approach something if you were a kid has shown to make a positive impact on creativity. That's because a kid gets permission to explore, to be new at something, to enjoy themselves - Adults rarely do. Somewhere along the way, someone says "you don't dance great", "your art is silly", "your voice isn't suited for singing", "if you haven't read as a kid, you can never be a writer", "if you're not great at something or if you can't make money off of it, then it isn't worth it"
Not true!
All those creative avenues and more are activities through which you can find happiness, meaning, self esteem, balance, and a sense of belonging, but only if you can have fun with it.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
• Studies suggest that critical remarks aimed at creativity often times inhibit it. This is true especially if the criticism comes from close social support (like a partner). Keep in mind that much of that criticism comes from unfair comparison between your work and the professional work of others. As well from the mindset that things have to be done to eventually make money or meet some standard. In contrast, the viewpoint outlined here is that you are doing something that is meaningful to you and makes you feel good. Forget money and standards for now! Suggestion here is to have a discussion about viewpoints with your social support network. You can also build capacity of that network by adding people with the same interests as well.
Being creative has a high likelihood in resulting in fun. That is if you can quiet the critical voices in your head long enough to lose yourself in a project. In this case, take a lesson from kids: explore something new, eyes wide and with excitement, as though this next project will be a blast. There's a reason why kids can approach creative activities like that... And it's because the critical voices haven't yet found home in their minds. Simply thinking about how you would approach something if you were a kid has shown to make a positive impact on creativity. That's because a kid gets permission to explore, to be new at something, to enjoy themselves - Adults rarely do. Somewhere along the way, someone says "you don't dance great", "your art is silly", "your voice isn't suited for singing", "if you haven't read as a kid, you can never be a writer", "if you're not great at something or if you can't make money off of it, then it isn't worth it"
Not true!
All those creative avenues and more are activities through which you can find happiness, meaning, self esteem, balance, and a sense of belonging, but only if you can have fun with it.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
• Studies suggest that critical remarks aimed at creativity often times inhibit it. This is true especially if the criticism comes from close social support (like a partner). Keep in mind that much of that criticism comes from unfair comparison between your work and the professional work of others. As well from the mindset that things have to be done to eventually make money or meet some standard. In contrast, the viewpoint outlined here is that you are doing something that is meaningful to you and makes you feel good. Forget money and standards for now! Suggestion here is to have a discussion about viewpoints with your social support network. You can also build capacity of that network by adding people with the same interests as well.
• Monitor your own inner dialogue. If you're feeling resistant to a creative project, stop and ask yourself why? Does it seem daunting? why? Often times what seemed to be a good idea to begin with seems silly halfway in. Why is that? Instead of abandoning the project, how can you inject some more fun into it? How do you let go? You may find it helpful to track beliefs about yourself that really obstruct creativity. Often times, you'll find that there's a theme to obstructive thoughts. Identifying it decreases its power over you.
• When brainstorming and getting into creativity, think about things you enjoyed in the past. Take a look at the ideas for getting creative below and use it as a springboard to find something you like. Don't like anything? That could be your mind throwing up a blockade. Challenge your thoughts by getting into something anyways. Do something all the way through and evaluate based on how you felt doing it and not your appraisal of the end product's worth.
• When brainstorming and getting into creativity, think about things you enjoyed in the past. Take a look at the ideas for getting creative below and use it as a springboard to find something you like. Don't like anything? That could be your mind throwing up a blockade. Challenge your thoughts by getting into something anyways. Do something all the way through and evaluate based on how you felt doing it and not your appraisal of the end product's worth.
- Set a goal and congratulate yourself when you've accomplished it. Knowing that creative ventures have a significant positive impact, set aside time for yourself to create (kind of like how you would for the gym, yoga, or a movie... That kind of thing). Just think about all that time spent Facebooking or on Reddit or the like (There's some free time you can designate as creativity time). Scheduling a time in can be helpful. Start small. You may find 15 mins over three days is easier to pull off than 45 mins on one day. Don't forget to evaluate your mood throughout.
Need some ideas to Start you off? How about these:
1. Scrap booking
2. Cooking (Use spices you haven't used before. Try things outside the recipe where you can. Dress your product up a little.
3. Painting (On different mediums and with different mediums)
4. Writing ( Write a short story, a poem, micro or flash fiction. Google for more!)
5. Design a Mandala (Don't know what it is? Google " how to draw a mandala". Click on the first link.)
6. Do some sowing or knitting
1. Scrap booking
2. Cooking (Use spices you haven't used before. Try things outside the recipe where you can. Dress your product up a little.
3. Painting (On different mediums and with different mediums)
4. Writing ( Write a short story, a poem, micro or flash fiction. Google for more!)
5. Design a Mandala (Don't know what it is? Google " how to draw a mandala". Click on the first link.)
6. Do some sowing or knitting
7. Play around with an instrument ( Belt out the chorus to a favourite song, change the tone, embellish wherever you like. Make up some words to the rhythm of another tune)
8. Rearrange the room for a new look
9. Revisit items awaiting summer yard sales to see if you can use pieces or change them to make something different.
10. Make up a dance, or add moves to a dance you already know.
11. Get some clay and make something. Make a decoration.
12. The next time you run, mix it up by going off your running trail. Add some random exercises. Create a fun new routine.
13. Drawing ( on paper or make a stencil to decorate a wall)
You don't have to show anyone what you've been up to on the creative front. Your creative experiment can be just for you: a gift to your health. Happy creating!
- Josh
8. Rearrange the room for a new look
9. Revisit items awaiting summer yard sales to see if you can use pieces or change them to make something different.
10. Make up a dance, or add moves to a dance you already know.
11. Get some clay and make something. Make a decoration.
12. The next time you run, mix it up by going off your running trail. Add some random exercises. Create a fun new routine.
13. Drawing ( on paper or make a stencil to decorate a wall)
You don't have to show anyone what you've been up to on the creative front. Your creative experiment can be just for you: a gift to your health. Happy creating!
- Josh
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