Creatively Speaking

Recently a good friend shared how she found a store where you could paint your own pottery. She had never done anything like this before in her life and was talking about how much she loved doing this. She explained how she couldn’t wait to go and found herself wanting to go paint everyday.

She then said something that took me completely off guard, “I’ve never done anything like this before in my life, I’m one of those people who have no talent, or an artistic bone in my body.” I asked her in shock if she truly believed that, and she said yes, she did.

I do not believe that about any person. I believe especially in people who haven’t found their “niche” yet, that there is a wealth of hidden, undiscovered talent, which just hasn’t been found yet. I love meeting people like this because to me, I sense a treasure hunt.

I have discovered in my life when I’m not doing something creative, there was something missing. That I felt off balance somewhat. I believe we are born with a need to express creativity. Sometimes it takes a process to find what’s blocking creativity.

Expand your thinking and definition of what creativity is. It isn’t only a person who can draw or paint or write. Most didn’t just take it up and were good at it at their first attempt. It was a natural talent, but it needed to be developed. They learned and practiced to become good at what they do. Just about anything and any medium can be created into art. Gardening can be an art form for instance. I’ve seen some gardens that truly were a work of art and almost breath taking. I’ve seen junk turned into art, there’s jewelry making, basket weaving, knitting, spinning your own yarn, photography, too much to list. Start thinking big.

Where does your interest lie? Take some time to really think about that. What are some areas you’ve told yourself, “someday I’d like to learn that.” What are some areas that you’ve seen others do that you find totally amazing and you seem to be the last one hanging around admiring all the small, finite details, wanting to know all about it? Look at those areas first.

Invest in yourself. Take a class, get a book or find a mentor. Put action to the commitment to learn. Each one who has mastered a skill goes through a learning process and starts at step one. Start. Stop with the excuses and fears. Resist perfectionism, it’ll shoot creativity in the foot. If it doesn’t fit you in the end, move on to try something else, but keep looking until you find that fit.

Creativity isn’t just about what we’re doing. It’s also about who we are as people. When we begin to move in our creativity, it will affect others around us as well. Its so amazing when you see that spark of creativity begin to spark creativity in those around us as well.

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