You are designed to be creative
When the topic of creativity comes up I often hear people say “ Oh I am very creative” or “Oh I don’t have a creative bone in my body”. These responses always make me smile, because everyone- and I mean EVERYONE - is creative. But over time, often as we get older and progress through the education system we align our definition of creativity to mirror the definition of artist; when in fact these definitions are very different. So let’s start with the definitions.
An artist is a person who is skilled at particular tasks of various creative arts such as painting, sculpting, imagery, writing or filmmaking.
Creativity is the use of one’s imagination to make or otherwise bring into existence something new; whether a solution to a problem, a method, a device, or an artistic expression.
Undoubtedly artists are often quite connected to their creativity. They may have a relationship with it that feels healthy and vibrant, or even one that feels full of burden. Regardless, they are often intentionally trying to connect with their creativity, via their imagination, to then use their skills to create an art form.
But even if you don’t profess to be an artist, you are connecting with your creativity on a regular basis. You are using your imagination to problem solve, to lean into your curiosities, to build connections and express yourself. Every time you have a thought that starts with “I wonder..” you are connecting with your imagination and then using your creativity to hypothesize the many possible answers to the end of that thought. Every time you are presented with a problem you are flexing your creative muscle to imagine different paths you could design to get to your desired outcome. So you see, creativity is not a skill that you either have or don’t. Nor is creativity exclusive to those with paint and pastels just lying about their house. Rather it is a way of being that we all have and use regularly. It is a way of being that you can connect with intentionally for your health and wellbeing. Let me give you an example.
Undoubtedly artists are often quite connected to their creativity. They may have a relationship with it that feels healthy and vibrant, or even one that feels full of burden. Regardless, they are often intentionally trying to connect with their creativity, via their imagination, to then use their skills to create an art form.
But even if you don’t profess to be an artist, you are connecting with your creativity on a regular basis. You are using your imagination to problem solve, to lean into your curiosities, to build connections and express yourself. Every time you have a thought that starts with “I wonder..” you are connecting with your imagination and then using your creativity to hypothesize the many possible answers to the end of that thought. Every time you are presented with a problem you are flexing your creative muscle to imagine different paths you could design to get to your desired outcome. So you see, creativity is not a skill that you either have or don’t. Nor is creativity exclusive to those with paint and pastels just lying about their house. Rather it is a way of being that we all have and use regularly. It is a way of being that you can connect with intentionally for your health and wellbeing. Let me give you an example.
“ But even if you don’t profess to be an artist,
you are connecting with your creativity on a regular basis. “
An athlete is very connected to their physical abilities. They spend time exploring, testing and practicing their body and mind’s ability to be physical. They might choose to exercise to maintain their physical and mental health, for recreation, for social connection, or simply as a way to connect with the ‘happy hormones’ that make us feel joy. They may also choose to practice their skills intensely to then be able to perform at a professional level; they use their physical skills to produce an income. These professional athletes present their physical abilities to the world or entertainment and as a form of inspiration. But regardless of whether you call yourself an athlete, or a professional athlete, we can all agree that you have the capacity to connect with being physical too. You may stretch, go for a walk, play with your children or attend a group fitness class; because you know that being physical benefits your physical and mental health, your mood, and not to mention it can be fun.
Now let's look at connecting with your creativity. An artist is likely very connected to their creativity. They spend time exploring, experimenting and practicing their body and mind’s ability to be creative. They might choose to connect with their creativity for recreation and fun, for social connection or for their physical and mental health. They might connect with their creativity to express, to release, to connect with joy, curiosity and wonder. They also may choose to present their creations to the world as a product that produces income and emulates inspiration; we call these folks professional artists. But regardless of whether you call yourself an artist or not, you too have the ability to connect with your creativity. You too can get creative to produce ‘happy hormones that connect you with feelings of joy and wonder. You too can use your creativity to express yourself, connect with others and be mindful. You can use your creativity to enhance your physical and mental health and overall wellness. Just like you don’t have to be an athlete to use your physical abilities to improve your wellness, you don’t have to be an artist to connect with your creativity either.
“When we connect with our creativity we engage in a form of expression that takes what was an internal experience and externalizes it into a form that can be seen, heard, felt or touched by others.”
Connecting with your creativity can look like playing imagination with your children, creating a new system for your workflow, designing a new aesthetic for your space, scribbling with crayons or writing in a journal. Creativity is simply the activation of your imagination to bring something into creation.
When we connect with our creativity we engage in a form of expression that takes what was an internal experience and externalizes it into a form that can be seen, heard, felt or touched by others. When we connect with our creativity we tell our brains that we are safe enough to imagine, we give our souls permission to wander, and we give our bodies permission to take a break from the grind and rest to rejuvenate. Being creative is a beautiful form of self care that is accessible to all of us; we just need to see its value.
So for the one who often declares, “I don’t have a creative bone in my body,” I offer the encouragement that every bone in your body is creative. Your creativity is waiting for you to reconnect with it like you did when you were a child. So in what way can you practice being creative today?
