Did you ever think about or discuss creativity? The truth is that we never consider creativity, what it is, how it can be useful in life, how it works, how it can be developed etc. To me, discussing creativity should be on an equal footing with common pursuits such as exercising more or eat our 5-a-day. In fact creativity is everywhere in our lives but yet we do not realise its existence and importance.
A 2019 research by BBC Arts and UCL, based on surveying 50,000 people, revealed that even a small amount of creativity can help you cope with modern life. The good news for those with busy schedules is that even the briefest time spent on a creative pastime such as painting, pottery or playing the piano, has an impact on our wellbeing and emotions.
Creative people are more flexible and can adapt to changes and deal with uncertainty better. In a new situation they will be more composed and find a way to accommodate and thrive. Creativity is immensely important in our everyday life. Being creative helps you become a better problem solver in all areas of your life and work. Studies show that creative people are better able to live with uncertainty because they can adapt their thinking to allow for the flow of the unknown. Researchers have found that creativity and the willingness to entertain novel ideas, is emerging as a lifelong protective factor - it decreases negative emotions, reduces stress and anxiety. In current conditions creativity can really help people of all ages both in their professional and private lives.
Creativity is not reserved for the arts, it is not reserved for special, gifted people. Everyone has the ability to be creative. It is something that can develop across different fields and encompass a variety of skills. In fact we are all born creative and we can grow this skill constantly during life. Some people think that school kills creativity as it focuses on convergent sciences and does not encourage creative thinking. Young children are not afraid to have imaginative ideas and to be wrong. With experience we all grow up afraid of being wrong and end up coming up with less and less creative ideas as time goes on. The education system is stigmatising mistakes. Research shows that gradually through schools children use the creative side of their brains less and less. Picasso said “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Lockdown is thought to have caused a creativity crisis by precluding the lively sparks generated when people are in groups and bouncing ideas off each other, face-to-face. When stuck at home we are missing out on new and different experiences, people, atmosphere, smells, sounds. All these external stimuli are a key source for our imagination. We can endeavour to remedy and boost our creativity by becoming aware of it, its importance and growing it by a regular practice like exercising a muscle at the gym or doing yoga.
Trying new creative activities is particularly good for our emotions and wellbeing. The research found that getting hands-on with something new and creative is important regardless of skill level, it is the taking part that counts. Try new experiences. Take time to meditate. Constantly learning and trying new creative pursuits is also more beneficial than doing the same things for many years. Try to be more creative in various aspects of your life: it can be by using a different route to go home, by putting your sandwich together in a different way than you have done for years, by listening to a different type of music, by cooking a different recipe, etc.
Now put some time aside in your diary over the next few days, perhaps an hour or two. At the time make sure you are not disturbed, switch off your mobile phone and play some inspiring music. Start with some meditation and do something creative, writing, crafting, knitting, DIY, wood working. Try to maintain a regular practice once or twice a week and keep an open mind curious and observing. The most important thing is to have fun and to be relaxed. The key is the journey and you do not need to share the results with anyone until you feel like it. Do not be afraid of making mistakes or of failure; there is no such thing in creativity; there is no right or wrong and sometimes it is not about the destination but all about the journey itself. What were thought to be “mistakes” have occasionally been breakthrough inventions, for instance penicillin or the X-ray machine. In creativity there is no competition.
Inspire Creative Workshop aims to spread the benefits of creativity in life. The next workshop Draw a portrait like Picasso/learn perspective will be on Saturday 22 May at 10:30am for 1 hour. All details and more information on creativity on our website www.inspirecreativeworkshop.com
And remember “You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Maya Angelou. There is so much to gain that you should give it a go.
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