Time to Create

We are all creative. We are born with a desire to make something – art, food, music, order out of chaos (accountants? Just trying to point out that all creativity isn’t arts related). I truly believe creativity lives in all of us. I also believe that during our childhood much of that desire gets battered and beaten down. A parent comments, “so glad you enjoy dance, but you know you can’t make a career out of it,” and a child no longer dances, even for the pure enjoyment of it. A teacher remarks, “That’s not how you do that,” and a creative solution is lost because thinking outside the box is not on the test. Even well-meaning comments we hear as children – and hear even as adults – chip away at that beautiful creative soul that we are born with. And far too often, we pack that worn, battered part of ourselves away deep in our subconscious so that she suffers no more. 

But she does suffer, locked away and unused. She lies waiting and eager to breathe joy and happiness into the world. And while she is eager and excited to be called upon, if she’s been locked away too long, she is stiff and sometimes disoriented – but no less willing. And sometimes we have no patience, so we tuck her back away, muttering that we were right all along – we are not creative. 

I am here to tell you that it is never too late to reawaken Creativity. We just need to give her a chance, a little time, a bit of encouragement, and a healthy dose of opportunity. Her restoration process is a journey in and of itself, and one that may unearth talents you didn’t even know Creativity possessed. 

My own creative journey has many twists and turns. I never hid Creativity away completely, but there were certainly times that I had her take a back seat to fear or practicality (i.e. “making a living”) or conventional wisdom (also “making a living” with a “real job”). But I’m a bit of a quiet rebel and would often sneak Creativity into whatever situation arose even when other parties involved felt there was no room for her. I’m quite thankful that many of my endeavors over the years featured Creativity: quilt and yarn shop owner, artist, author. But there were times when the siren call of a fat paycheck in a non-creative role lured me away from her. The first paycheck or two were lovely but then I would miss Creativity. For me, life without Creativity is dull and depressing. 

Have you stored Creativity away, broken and battered, only to be called upon in dire circumstances (night before your child’s science fair project is due)? Do you miss her? Would you like her to be your constant companion – giddy with excitement and bubbling with enthusiasm? (On occasion it can be a bit much and you have to remind Creativity to slow her roll – and she’s fine with that). 

If you are interested in getting to know your Creativity better, check out my upcoming FREE mini-course, Time to Create. Click here to know when it is released AND get a bonus coloring sheet to download so you can start your creative journey today.