365 Inspirations—197: Living Creatively

Collages created at our Yoga/Writing Retreat at the Yoga Lodge

"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

I don't know if I could live without creativity. After all, we as humans are creations. Creativity is part of our nature.

I've been teaching classes about intuitive or direct writing at some of our writing/yoga retreats. Believe it or not, this is a class that came to me "inuitively" and I've gotten great feedback from it. Creativity can come in many forms. In fact, even if you don't think you are creative or live a creative life, you probably do.

Have you ever dreamed up something to cook for dinner with what you have on hand? You are being creative! Have you ever gone to a beach or park on a whim? Decided to rearrange your furniture? Bought new, colorful sheets? Took a different way home from work? All of these activities require creativity.

Anytime you deviate from what you normally do, you are being creative.

How much creativity you allow in your life depends on you.

In my writing retreats, I try to get people to free write without editing or censoring. The idea is to keep the pen moving across the page with whatever comes to mind. Later, when people go back and read these, they are often surprised by what they have written. It is often even more surprising if you put these spontaneous pieces of writing away for a few months before you read them again. Many things I've written or collaged about have actually come true for me in real life. It took the act of creatively writing or doing art for me to see what was probably already there.

We often are our own biggest obstacles to living a life we want, creatively or otherwise. It is the self talk we do that blocks us from our own potential.

Creating space for creativity is very important. Otherwise, how will you be able to hear yourself and what your heart is calling you to do when there is so much outside noise?

In the beginning, it may feel strange to have creative space to yourself. You may feel like you are wasting your time. Give yourself some time. Before you know it, you will be creating all kinds of things and you'll be living a creative life.

Are you living a creative life? In what ways are you in tune with your creativity?