Creativity

“You don’t have to be original. You have to be authentic.” – Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic

                It’s week three of April in my 32nd year on this planet and I’m attempting for the 500th time to lean into creativity. I do creativity the same way Ali Brosh (and, let’s be honest…same) does adulthood: see Hyperbole and a Half for “This is Why I’ll Never Be an Adult”. Creativity has always seemed like all-or-nothing to me. Either my song had to be the next hit, or it was garbage. If my painting was less realistic than the person next to me painting the same subject, it should never see the light of day. Plus, creativity always centered around the “arts” in my mind: music, art (painting, sculpture, photography), films. This type of thinking has done me zero favors.

                My first sincere attempt at being creative started about a year ago. I began to read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron after hearing about it from the podcast Personality Hacker. Each chapter correlates to a week (12 weeks total) with tasks and exercises to help regain your ability to be creative. I, passionately, did four weeks and then, promptly, quit. However, while I was in the thick of it, I made some brilliant things. I repurposed my pen pal letters/postcards from a friend in New York and made a collage that now hangs in my living room. I took four quotes from my book journal (which just houses quotes from books I’ve read) wrote them over art I drew/painted and wrote a note on the back so I could put it in to the respective books at the library for new readers to find. I had a million more ideas: building sandcastles, learning how to play a song on the guitar, poetry, on and on.

During those four weeks, I came to a lot of realizations. Here are a couple of them:

·         Creativity doesn’t have to come in an art form. I can create an activity for people to engage in. I can create a spreadsheet for someone at work who is struggling to organize their thoughts. Creation is about ideas manifesting themselves through you.

·         Practicing creativity daily can be fun and bring a light-heartedness to life.

·         You can’t pour from an empty cup and being creative helps fill my cup.

·         You don’t have to be unique but be authentic. Probably my biggest takeaway of the whole endeavor.

                Sadly, I stopped prioritizing creativity. All too often, creativity takes a backseat in life. We find ourselves needing to make meals, exercise, work, have a social life. New excitement crops up and diligently setting aside time each day becomes a chore rather than a choice. So, I’ve found myself at creativity sincere attempt number two. Part of this is stemming from being creative with a new website/blog/video podcast. Part of this is stemming from my coach challenging me to read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and the inspiration it instilled in me. Part of this is even stemming from the fact that we’re all quarantined to our homes for, at least, the rest of April and I’ve made it through a majority of my “to do” list. No matter the reason, I’m taking the opportunity to try again but I don’t want to repeat past mistakes. Here’s the difference in this attempt: create in a way that makes me happy. Maybe I don’t want to write my morning pages as instructed by The Artist’s Way. Maybe that morning I want to color in a coloring book. Great…create. Maybe I need a break from writing and making art. Maybe that means singing a song with my roommate. Great…create. Whatever creating means to me that day, that’s where my energy needs to be spent.

                For those that may need a little extra motivation, below are some quotes from Big Magic that stuck out to me. Maybe they will inspire you to let go of some of the previous limiting beliefs you’ve had around creativity. I’ll also post stuff I’ve created each week on Instagram. Fair warning, some of it may be terrible, but know that I’m having fun doing it. What will you create?

Inspirational quotes from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Fear is boring. Fear is a song with one note. Fear asks you to continuously stop.

Creativity isn't a path for the fearless, it's a path for the brave.

Shape your own world exactly to your liking while no one is looking.

If you're supporting yourself financially and not bothering anyone else, you're free to do as you like.

Everybody imitates before they can innovate.

Live the most vividly decorated time you can. It's all temporary.

Interesting outcomes are just awful outcomes with the drama turned down.

Done is better than good.