If you had asked me as a teenager if I was creative, or even as a young adult the answer would have been a resounding no. Ask me now and I would say yes, I am. The difference between now and then? How I define creativity I suppose. What inspires creativity though?
I was useless at art at school, in fact, I am STILL useless at drawing although I am told I have beautiful writing skills. I have learnt however that art is not the only means of being creative. I now employ my creative side in:
- writing poetry (something I have done since I was a teenager incidentally)
- quilting and sewing
- telling stories to my children
- getting my children to do things I need them to do by making it into a game
- approaching problems and finding solutions
- organising my time
- writing these articles
That is just a snapshot, there is more I am sure, I just can’t think of any at the moment. Of course, to define creativity and what defines it is not going to be possible in 400 words or so, it is too nebulous and the act of doing so would restrict creativity (in my opinion). Creativity happens when something new comes into being, probably best described as a light bulb coming on, a door opening or finding focus you never knew you had. It is often intense.
Here are some great quotes:
“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” -Sylvia Plath, writer, “The Journals of Sylvia Plath”
” Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things.” -Ray Bradbury, writer
“Creativity takes courage.” -Henri Matisse, artist
When it comes to keeping on track, something I struggle with, it is useful to know what inspires you, specifically you, because it is different for everyone. I am inspired by the world and people around me, by challenging my thoughts and my beliefs in myself.
I definitely find that the less I think about something the more easily the creativity flows and often thinking less means practising more. The more comfortable I am with something, the easier it is, the less I think, the more I am creative.
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