The artist emerges: Coaxing the creative with purposeful play.
We are all born creative.
Some of us have experienced our own creativity. Some of us have felt the calling. And some of us may not believe we are creative, but if that’s the case, it’s probably that you just haven’t believed in it, tapped into it, encouraged it, or coaxed it out of hiding. And, let’s be honest, that could take a little effort. But we can all become more creative, and it is SOOOO worth it. Here are some ideas to help make that happen.
Play like a child.
Allow yourself baby steps of freedom. Give up the ego-driven need to create a masterpiece. In other words, stop being a perfectionist and become an explorer. Dance like a child. Draw like a child. Make up plays and stories and songs like a child.
Have an “opposite day.”
Sometimes you just need to shake it all up. When my daughter was little, she loved to have what she called “opposite days.” Wear the opposite of what you’ve been wearing, dress in a color you normally wouldn’t consider, take a different route home, draw, paint, or write with your non-dominant hand. Be stubborn and resist just the way my five-year-old did when she was having her own version of “opposite day.”
Allow yourself to play with paint and color with wild abandon. Paint on cardboard, or even over a cheap (bad?) painting you pick up at the thrift store. Use big brushes and crazy colors and just have fun.
Give yourself permission to create ugly art.
Yes, ugly. And lots of it. Make it fun and maybe even silly.
When I picked up the paintbrush after many years of not allowing myself the time to do so, I struggled with the loss of skill that happens over time. And then I read about someone creating ugly art as a way of freeing up creative expression. For me it’s about getting that controlling perfectionist to just lighten up.
After my decades long hiatus from painting, and more than a few frustrating painting sessions, I told myself my mission was to paint a series of ugly paintings. I wasn’t to think of my efforts as creating art, just practicing painting. Thinking in this way allows me so much more freedom to play, experiment, break out and try new things and just not worry about it.
Take yourself on artist dates.
Once a week or so, take time to treat yourself to something special. Artist dates can be inspiring or just fun — the purpose is to feed your soul and reignite that creative spark. Listen to music, take in an art show, have coffee with a friend who makes you laugh, go on a hike, hit the bookstore. The key is to be present.
A simple artist date for me is just going for a walk, but before I head out, I remind myself to use my senses and be aware all I see, smell, feel and experience. Sometimes I get more specific and look for colors in shadows, or contrasts in nature, or textures, or how the wind or light is playing what I’m seeing.
Once you start this practice you will be amazed by what you’ve been missing or taking for granted. It always delights and inspires me.
Talk to yourself.
Daily affirmations have been proven to be extremely powerful. I start my day by writing down a series of affirmations that are meaningful and timely. I follow this short practice by writing one of the affirmations I feel I need to hear the most and fill the page. I follow with a meditation of varying lengths, and I always begin by saying to the powers that be “I love you and I am listening. I am ready and willing to let you lead the way.”
One of my most loved daily affirmations comes from Julia Cameron in her legendary book, The Artist’s Way — “As I listen and create, I will be led.” Jacob Nordby, in his wonderful book, The Creative Cure, recommends this mantra — “I am creative. I am an artist. I am creating my life.”
Here’s another favorite that came to me at a time my life seemed to be evolving at hyper speed as that artist’s calling was pulling hard — “I am building my beautiful future.”. There are so many examples of inspiring affirmations to borrow and make your own. Or, better yet, make your own. That way it’s personal and gets right to the core of what you want.
Look the part to feel the part.
Adorn yourself.Buy a piece of jewelry, or a colorful scarf or a hat, or just something that makes you feel creative and spirited and special and alive. I’m telling you; it works. It works so well that I can see my entire wardrobe evolving one liberating accessory at a time to represent the creative, artistic me. Piece by piece I’m moving toward Stacy the spirited and away from Stacy the sensible.
In summary: You are creative.
You may or may not know that, but it’s in you. There are myriad ways to express that creativity, and there is an abundance of ways to find it, mine it, and bring it out into the light. Try any or all these ideas and keep at it. You’ll be so glad you did!
