A Simple Reminder: Creativity Isn't Just for Artists
There is a perception out there, that creativity is only associated with artists. That it’s only available to a select group of people who paint or dance or write. But that just isn’t true. Creativity exists in all of us and we all use it, in one way or another, each and every day.
Let’s remember that creativity is, in its most simple definition, the ability to create. And in that, we’ve all come from a long line of creative people, makers, growers, storytellers, problem-solvers, etc. Elizabeth Gilbert, reminds us of this in Big Magic, “If you’re alive, you’re a creative person.” She also writes that you do not need permission to live a creative life, “consider yourself fully accredited.”
My take on creativity is that even daily tasks such as planning out a day with your kids, organizing a closet, repairing a broken door or adding your own personal twist to a recipe, all require creativity on some level.
The power of creativity comes when you take those simple, everyday tasks, and make them your own. When you do things in a way that feels good for you, that lights you up and gets you excited.
When you begin to think outside the box, rather than defaulting to doing what everyone else is doing, your creativity becomes active and fun!
I have worked with clients who just don’t feel like they are creative, they claim to not have that gene in their body. Or they used to be creative, but then life happened and their time and energy is depleted, so they no longer feel they have the ability to be a creative person. And what’s interesting is, by taking a look at the stories and unfolding them a bit, they start to see that actually, they are robustly creative people. And in recognizing that, they begin to light up!
There are many false narratives we listen to, which tell us that we are not creative: We have no time, we need certain supplies to work with, we like to stick to the script, perfectionism gets in the way of being creative, we don’t have time, energy or space to do anything creative. But by setting those ideas down and embracing the mindset that creativity is already in us, and owning the full goodness that creating something, anything, can do for us, we can start to believe that creativity is available to us, everyday.
So I’ll leave you with this word of encouragement: Own your creativity, nurture it, feed it, let it make your life colorful!
