Creativity is a curious thing.
I wonder if most people consider themselves creative? My answer would be probably, ‘no.’ I don’t know why that is, actually, I think I do know. Somehow the uninhibited joy of childhood expression becomes squelched by adulthood.
We’re all born with the ability to create because we were all created by a Master Creator. What I’m trying to say is that you are magnificently designed from the inside out and have a God-given bend towards creativity and creating things. How can there be billions and billions of completely original people in this world? There are. Each of us is individually made, created with a specific blueprint completely unique. And yet, the function of our arms, legs, fingers, eyes, nose, mouth, and the like are common to every human.
For example: I’m so glad my stomach knows how to digest food without me figuring it out. My knees bend exactly right so I can walk and stand and sit. How do my lungs know what to do with the particles of air that I breathe and carry oxygen to my blood? How can I read by simply looking at letters on a page? It all works by design.
Placed inside each of us is a unique seed of creativity intended to match perfectly the masterplan of our natural gifting.
My inner wiring isn’t like yours.
When the handle on my microwave door broke, I thought I would need a replacement door or a whole new microwave. But my brother, whose inner creative wirings are different than mine, saw this broken handle and could envision exactly how to replace it! It was an easy puzzle for him to figure out, a complete mystery for me. It took some creative ingenuity for that fix-it job. Replacing microwave handles may not seem creative, but it is.
We often think of creativity as painting or performing. Creativity is unique. It’s whatever we happen to enjoy doing or are skilled to do. It may come with a learning curve and hard work to master, but creativity is what makes us who we are.
I’m taking a class through The School of Bravery, (where I’m a guest faculty and their monthly journal instructor, join us!) As a School, we’re going through the book titled, The Artist Way A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron. It’s a 12-week course in discovering and recovering your creative self. Cameron writes,
“Artists are visionaries. We routinely practice a form of faith, seeing clearly and moving toward a creative goal that shimmers in the distance-often visible to us, but invisible to those around us.”
The fix of my microwave door handle was invisible to me. But it was visible to my brother in law. It was a creative vision he saw and executed.
Creativity can’t be taught. And yet the this workbook guides people who want to discover their own unique creativity. Microwave handle-mending is creativity. Writing is creative. Knitting is creative. Fixing air-conditioning units is creative. Selling real estate is creative. Baking is creative, on and on…
The main framework of the workbook is to commit daily to what’s called, Morning Pages. I write my Morning Pages first thing every morning. This involves putting pen to paper and filling three pages with “brain-dump” writing. No rhyme, no reason. It doesn’t need to make sense or have any kind of form.
The writing I do in my Morning Pages isn’t to be proofread or pursued further after writing. No editing, no reading. Actually, it’s best to write for 3 assigned pages or 30 minutes or whichever comes first, then Emily Ann Peterson recommends ripping it all up to start the new day fresh. What was floating around inside your mind is the heart during the night has been released and that’s that.
Last time I attempted to do this course on my own, I only made it to chapter (or week) three. I had no accountability or discovery. This time, with an organized class, I’m looking forward to the full 12 weeks, releasing in my hidden places, realizing what needs to be let go or discovered, or forgiven.
You’re more creative than you know.
Realize that and see the things you enjoy or do best are because you are uniquely you.
That’s a blessing!