When I mention creativity and art around people, I get a lot of strong reactions with anxiety and fear topping the list. There are also people who vehemently did in their heels and proclaim that THEY ARE NOT CREATIVE—never have been, never will be. Now, I know I am kind of a rare bird, but that would NOT be the camp I would entrench myself in. Creativity is NOT a four-letter word and it’s not something to be afraid of. It’s actually a highly beneficial life-skill that is needed in social, emotional, educational, and financial settings, to name a few.
Creativity is for everyone and it’s actually an essential component to a well-lived life. Here are a few facts for you to ponder:
- Creative thinkers get into better colleges.
- They are highly sought after in the workplace and get better jobs with higher pay.
- Growth-minded, creative people are innovators and they disrupt the status quo.
- Creativity is a powerful elixir that combats the effects of our over-scheduled, screen-dense, highly isolated lives.
- Science proves that creativity is vital to brain health and overall cognition.
I know that, despite seeing these facts and agreeing that the benefits of creativity can’t be denied, some of you will still refute the importance of living a creative life. When you hear “creative” you automatically think “Picasso” and then your next thought is, “I could never do that.”
Well, I am here to tell you today that creativity doesn’t just mean paintbrushes and canvases. Far from it! Creativity is cognitive health. It’s the ability to effectively problem-solve. It’s altruistic, an act of resistance, and a powerful connector, confidence-booster, and community-builder!
I am going to share five tips for living a more creative life. I invite you to try at least one of these a week through the end of the year (and decade)! I don’t gamble, but I am willing to bet that your life will be positively impacted in both expected and unexpected ways.
Five Ways to Live a More Creative Life (without ever going to an art studio):
- Spend More Time in Nature. In our highly digitized worlds, we forget how restorative and cathartic the natural world can be! Get outside and lay on your back while looking at the sky. Take slow, deep breaths as you see how many shapes you can find in the morphing clouds. Or go for a walk and leave some stacked-stone cairns in your path. Stacked stones are a wonderful reminder of both patience and impermanence, and they are sure to put a smile on the faces of the people who walk the path after you.
- Visit Someplace You’ve Never Been (Bonus points for immersing yourself in completely different cultures). Travel is a phenomenal way to broaden your horizons, improve social and communication skills, and make lifelong memories. If budget and time are a concern of yours, you don’t even have to hop on a plan or update your passport. Visit the ethnically and culturally diverse communities within your city or state. Every big city usually has a Chinatown, Little Italy, and an artistic hub. Spend a day eating the food, meeting the people, and immersing yourself in other ways of life. Such a gift to both yourself and the businesses you are supporting!
- Mix Up Your Routine. Predictability can be comforting, but it can also be stale, suffocating, and boring. Dedicate a week or two to mixing it up and noticing how invigorated and refreshed you feel. Who knows? You might even discover and develop some new habits. Normally sit on the couch in a food coma after dinner? Go for a walk to help metabolize that meal instead. Watch the news every night before bed? Read a book or do some meditation or restorative yoga poses instead. Instead of checking your phone as soon as your eyes open in the morning, keep a journal next to your bed and start a 15 minute journaling practice instead.
- Try a Little Role Reversal. Sometimes we take on a task, only to find out that we now own it until the end of time. Make a conscious effort to switch up the rote responses and gender roles by doing a little switcheroo from time to time. Take new ownership of something you have never really tried: you can mow the lawn while someone else chauffeurs the kids. Hand over the hammer and offer to cook dinner instead. Put the weed whacker away and get into those flower beds and plant a garden for a change.
- Be Open to Someone Else’s Perspective. We tend to live our lives in echo chambers. Whether it’s political, socio-economic, or religious/spiritual, we surround ourselves with like-minded people. The downside of all of this is that we become unable to have civil discord, we lose the ability to have empathy, and our worldview becomes smaller and smaller. I’m not inviting you to argue or try to prove someone else wrong. I am inviting you to respectfully listen. And, then maybe go do some independent research on an opposing belief. Who knows? At the very least, you might learn something—either about the person you were speaking with, or about something you knew very little about.
Follow Through and Next Steps:
There really are no excuses for not giving these a try. You don’t need a lot of extra time, money, or equipment. You simply need an open mind and a can-do attitude. And really, that is what the whole concept of creativity has been about all along!
If you like these suggestions and want more, I have five more waiting for you! If you want access to the downloadable PDF (as well as other helpful, insightful, uplifting content), sign up for my newsletter. I send effective life-tips and self-discovery strategies along with lots of how-tos for the artists in the group.
Remember: creativity is not a four letter word. I look forward to hearing all about your shifts and insights.