Do you enjoy creating something out of nothing? Making something beautiful, something useful, something just for the fun of doing it? When was the last time you let your creativity flow freely? How did it feel to let it flow? Is there anything that gets in the way of your creative pursuits?
“What is creative living? Any life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert
Young children have always seemed to have the most open flowing imagination, letting their curiosity and excitement guide them. Now even children seem to be losing their creativity, with the excessive amount of time spent on TV and electronic devices. There is no need for them to use their imagination. Who remembers making up plays, designing sculptures out of scraps, making forts in the living room and pretending it was a castle, dressing up the pets and having tea parties? Those were not only fun experiences, but important in our development. When my kids were younger, they had friends come over that didn’t have a clue how to make up a game, or play using their imagination. What will the world look like when people no longer know how to imagine, pretend or create? What creativity blocks can you remove from your life to be more in the flow?
“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.” ~ Elder Uchtdorf
Creativity is something we all need to utilize and practice on a regular basis. Shifting us out of fear and into curiosity. We become better problem solvers. It helps us to use our whole brains. It gets us out of our stressful routines and to express emotions that may otherwise get buried within us. This expression can also be healing on deeper levels than we can access with verbal expression. It also gives us the opportunity to explore our gifts in ways we might not have imagined. And it helps us to open up to divine inspiration, allowing it to flow through us and into whatever we are creating. Once we open up this flow of inspiration, it can light up other areas of our lives, bringing us joy and happiness.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ~ Maya Angelou
So what is creativity? Anything that you do to express your soul, and allow spirit to flow through you to make something, often without instructions or patterns, letting it take its unique form. It can come out in infinite ways…cooking, painting, drawing, woodworking, gardening, creating music, sewing, crafts, building something, decorating, writing, inventing…looking different for everyone. Don’t just enjoy other’s creative work, it must come from you. It has nothing to do with talent or ability, just a willingness to let out what is within you. Set aside any doubts or judgements, and discover what has been hidden and trying to get out. It can be a very freeing experience. What can you create? What is your uniqueness longing to express? How does your soul want to express itself?
“Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world.” ~ Brene Brown
Take some time today to discover ways that your soul would like to express itself in a new creative endeavor. Give yourself permission to explore new possibilities and see where it takes you. Make a point to utilize these creative pursuits on a regular basis as part of your spiritual practice, bringing more joy, peace and fulfillment to your soul. As with any practice, the more often you do it the easier it will be, and the more confidence you will have in yourself. Let it flow freely…and have fun!
