People often say to me that they aren’t creative or they don’t have the time or energy to be creative. Everyone is creative, some are just more aware of it than others. I understand that finding time to take an art class or focus to make something can be a challenge in our hectic and demanding lives; but the simple act of being creative shouldn’t be a step outside the norm, it should be a state of being. Has our overly mechanized and logical society set creativity apart from the norm? Maybe, but I don’t buy into this idea.
Creativity is sparked by the simple act of paying attention and doing or seeing things differently. It’s a choice. If you want to make this choice, first, break the routine! Rote actions put our creative brains to sleep. If we don’t ask our creative forces for input on a regular basis, they go to sleep. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there for the asking, but if you haven’t used them in a while, they might be a little groggy.
Invigorate your creative juices by giving yourself the gift of a simple creative challenge. Do one thing to break your routine and challenge yourself to pay attention to one visual element that you find pleasing. For example, go for a walk, take a route that isn’t the way that you always go and pay close attention to the sights and sounds around you. Chose one characteristic to zero in on, like observing the various textures you encounter. Texture surrounds us physically and visually; yet we are rarely aware of it. Look closely, stop to touch surfaces, compare colors and recognize patterns. Taking time to really see and feel the textures in your surroundings should allow your brain to make new connections, develop new pathways and spark some ideas. If, on a regular basis, you step outside your routine to observe and experience some aspect of your surroundings in a new and different way; you will stimulate your creative forces and develop creative energy. Who knows what inspiration may come your way.
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