Exploring Your Creativity

In the pursuit of knowledge and understanding it is often too easy to forget about creativity and set it aside. For all too long we’ve been told to leave our creativity behind in childhood, along with finger paints, sidewalk chalk and imaginative play. As we get older it gets more and more convenient to set aside our creativity to meet the demands of our everyday adult life where there are deadlines to meet and bills to pay. But if you shift your perspective and explore your creativity, you will be surprised at the changes you experience in all aspects of your life.

So before you make yourself comfortable, ask yourself these questions and give yourself honest answers. You just may surprise yourself yet.

Creativity Exercises for When You Feel Stuck

Keep a Creativity Journal—Dieticians and personal trainers have long touted the importance of tracking your diet and exercise efforts for maximum results. Your creativity journey is no different than embarking on a diet or exercise regime. You’ve made the decision to do this and keeping a journal is a good way to keep yourself accountable and track the progress you’ve made. Unlike diet and exercise, there are no real apps for that, so don’t be afraid to get creative. You can keep a photographic record of your efforts or you can keep an old fashioned diary complete with a lock and key. The trick is to find what allows you to express yourself.

Get Decisive—Cut “maybe” from your thoughts and commit to only saying “yes” or “no”. This will help you become a more decisive person and it will force you to fully analyze your answers. By taking “maybe” out of the equation, you will have to look at what you do or don’t want to do and reprioritize what’s important to you. This shift in perspective will help you discern if a creative pursuit is really fulfilling you or if it’s time to find something different.

Embrace Bewilderment—The greatest growth often comes from the most uncomfortable places. By facing times of bewilderment and confusion, then plunging ahead rather than turning away and giving up, you will break through your fear and come out the other side to surprising results. Now is the time to sign up for something you’ve always wanted to do, but were afraid to do. Take that dance class; try that new recipe or new sewing pattern. Whatever you do, break out of your comfort zone and try something new and a little bewildering.

From the mundane to the extraordinary, a little creativity in your life can unleash surprising new solutions and challenge your perspective on how you go about living your life. There is always room for creative thought and now is the time to get serious about exploring your creativity. Not only will you become more versatile at problem solving, you will also find new ways to have fun and express yourself so that you can live an honest and authentic life.