Your IDEAL Creative Tools
IDEAL creativity doesn’t mean glossy perfection, as this post’s photo illustrates. It can be messy, dark at times, weathered, mysterious, obscure, seemingly un-sexy, and lacking in color. So what? The best thing you can do is drop what you’ve heard other people say about creativity, especially anything that perpetuates excuses to play safe and remain in Camp Comfort. The big deal in ideal is you finding and utilizing your unique set of creative tools that leverage your natural strengths, experiences, and passions.
We’ve all procrastinated important things like creative ideas, dreams, and wishes, waiting for an ideal time to get started. In the meantime, we lean on all kinds of good-sounding excuses like...
“This idea is just pie-in-the-sky anyway.”
“It’s too impractical and risky.”
“I don’t have the resources or space for it.”
“What will so-n-so think?”
“Now’s just not a good time.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing or which way to go with it.”
“I don’t have the right credentials.”
“I couldn’t make money with it anyway.”
"I'll start after I get back from vacation next month."
Sound familiar? We’ve all bit our lips on these types of statements as we plow forward with our practical tasks. And then, in the space between the “must do” chores, we look for ways to numb the discomfort of self-abandonment. The emptiness left in the wake of our unfulfilling tasks leaves a craving; so, we feed it with large doses of something—whether it’s emotional eating, drinking, shopping, smoking, facebooking, complaining, and/or others.
Rather than define these as “wrong,” let’s just be real about their roles. Are you doing these in moderation, or are they moving beyond a healthy balance? Give quality time to that introspection. It's fine. No one else has to hear your inner reality check yet. At some point, it would probably be an empowering thing to share your discovery with someone you trust. Speaking out loud opens the door to movement, positive change, and support from your trusted loved ones.
An essential truth of life is that you are meant to create. Every one of us is a walking embodiment of creation. A human being that is not creating is like a winged-creature hopping around rather than flying.
It just ain’t right. So, when we ignore the importance of being creative and fill our days completely with non-creative tasks, we snuff out a vital spark that could otherwise energize and add "juice" to our well-being. Adding creative fuel to this innate spark (potential) is the key to filling the void with a healthy fire for being a bold Creator.
If you’re stuck on a theme that you’re not creative because you don’t like to write, draw, paint, or create music, then create a new story based on your interests and values. Somewhere within those is a creative outlet that is ideal for your life path.
Some people trip on the perception that what they like isn’t “creative.” If what you are doing energizes you and brings value to your life and others, it’s creative. My accountant is extremely creative. I’ve coached managers in “non-artsy” industries who are very creative. Problem solving is creative. Successfully managing people takes a lot of creativity. If your "thing" energizes you when you do it, there’s your sign. Another example...organizing requires creativity. For some it’s a draining passion-kill while others skip all the way to the bank with profits made from their unique creative talent, assisting others who detest it.
If you’re uncertain about your unique creative expression, start with something simple like coloring. Adult color books are flying off the shelves because coloring is simple; it requires no analytical thought, and it’s a no-risk endeavor. Coloring jump starts your creative flow. By simply choosing which hues to fill between the lines (or outside of the lines if you’re a rebel), you take small steps toward creative expression. If you already acknowledge yourself as creative, and experience feeling blocked as we all do from time-to-time, coloring may be the perfect simple exercise to get the flow going again. This image is a portion of one of my "creativity boosting" play times. Being a little more kid-like can be the best medicine to get "un-blocked."
Stagnation = poor physical, mental, and emotional health. Stagnant water is toxic to drink. Water that flows is naturally safer to drink. Flow is the answer to well-being, so the key is finding approachable ways to invite flow into your life so that eventually you can tap your unique “well” of creation. If you’re committed to finding it, and you proceed with consistent, conscious actions, you will discover your creative path.
The first paragraph is so important, it begs to be repeated: IDEAL doesn’t mean glossy perfection, as this post’s photo illustrates. It can be messy, dark at times, weathered, mysterious, obscure, seemingly un-sexy, and lacking in color (at least at first). So what? The best thing you can do is drop what you’ve heard other people say about creativity, especially anything that perpetuates excuses to play safe and remain in Camp Comfort. The big deal in ideal is you finding and utilizing your unique set of creative tools that leverage your natural strengths, experiences, and passions.
IDEAL is your unique expression that feels cool as hell, rich with texture etched by imperfect strokes of your creative genius. When you embrace your IDEAL, you come alive. You embody the art of well-being, live abundantly, and inspire others to do the same.
Much love to your day, ~Korrine
Request to the Cosmos:
May I attune to the infinite and benevolent power of Creation so that my thoughts, feelings, and creative actions are led by Love in service to the well-being of All.
A high-quality print of the "IDEAL" image is available here.
