When it comes to their creativity, I wish everyone would stop telling me how they are not creative or just don’t have the time for their creativity.
This comes from living in a culture that doesn’t value creativity. And you know why it doesn’t? Because if people think on their own, have their own ideas and create new realities, how will we be controlled? The dominant culture tells us that creativity, or our art is superfluous. Creativity is for children and those who must do it are condemned to the life of the starving artist. STARVING – who wants that???
The dominant culture wants us to be busy – busy working so many hours and days per week that we barely have time for feeding ourselves (aka NOT STARVING) and when we do have extra time we are so exhausted that it’s easier to just plop in front of the TV/Internet/Entertainment-of-some-kind and turn our brains off. How often do you say “I just need to turn my brain off” “I just need to get outside of my head”? Living with this type of exhaustion keeps us from thriving. We are focused on survival and we agree that our art (whatever that may be) is something we have to give up as we grow up, or maybe we will pick it up again in retirement.
But what if our creativity could actually help us to enjoy what we have already, and therefore gives us energy, instead of taking it away?
Somewhere along the line we have been shamed or embarrassed about our creative expression. Most kids love to play with their creativity. They derive so much joy from it. We c an too. But many kids around age 7 or 8 start looking around and comparing their expression to others and deeming theirs as less. It’s kind of like saying that my fingerprints aren’t as good as yours. Those of us who do persist often do so in secrecy. Which is fine, but also limits the potential.
I don’t care what it looks like, that’s not the point.
Our culture also values product over process. Things we can make money from are more important than things we just do because well… we want to. We feel an urge, an idea comes across that we are curious about.
Artists are just people who follow through on their creative impulses.
I feel like scribbling with crayons might come out of nowhere. “That’s stupid” we might tell ourselves, shaming our inner creative. Or maybe we do follow through and then we feel stupid about what we did. Chances are if we quit when we were young, that’s right where we pick it up again. We don’t understand. And that’s ok too.
When we follow those impulses, however stupid they may seem, we are giving into the creative force that animates everything. We are following faith. We are playing with the divine. We are listening to the voice inside that is curious, and free.
If you have an idea, say, “I feel like tearing up that magazine and gluing pieces back together.” and we do it, we have entered sacred space. And whether or not we do it and how we go about doing it can tell us everything we need to know about who we are and what we believe. Do we encourage ourselves, allow mistakes and just enjoy the moment? Or do we judge, criticize and shame ourselves? I guarantee that these thoughts come up in other areas of your life. What else are you shaming yourself out of? What else does your soul want that you tell yourself is childish and stupid?
I believe that our dreams matter, even if we don’t know why.
Opening ourselves up for creative exploration is an opportunity to say yes. The stakes are low, the potential is high.
Besides, you are already using the creativity you say you don’t have, every day. You are putting together outfits, making meals, creating reasons why you should feel ok about the things you do that you hate. Creating reasons to put off the things you are afraid of.
With openness and willingness, your creative practice is your chance to reclaim your whole self. It doesn’t take much time (five minutes works!) and it doesn’t cost anything (have paper and pen?)
When we prioritize our creative impulses we are honoring ourselves. And isn’t that better for everyone?