This is such a rich topic to explore… and what I notice is an undercurrent of “creative” as an identity in our culture… a very western notion that we have to consistently “do” to be entitled to claim it.
For me, flipping it on its head to see creativity as the language of the heart (and our fire element), changed my relationship to it. What am I passionate about and love - those are my creative fuels and outlets. And when I work with clients, I ask what brings them joy, and they frequently go blank - as if they only know joy is in relationship to validation/service to others.
So we explore what they loved to do when they were younger… swing on the swings, color, blow bubbles, play in the waves at the beach…? I see these sweet memories as portals into our joy, creativity, and passion (all elements of the heart).
I love this: "creativity as the language of the heart (and our fire element)"
The way I found myself back to crochet is that in the midst of depression I read or heard somewhere to think of what you loved when you were 8 or 10 years old ... it's a time when typically you've still got all of that playfulness but you're old enough that it's somewhat self-directed so it points you to what's right for you!
Oh I love this. I'm looking for my 'creativity play' in my own life. I'm ejoying doing a daily watercolour sketch in my practice book. The challenge and the time available is meaning I'm getting better at enjoying the moments rather than focusing on perfection.
I often start the morning with a small collage or found poetry from images/words I've clipped out of magazines. Something tiny that's just about the process
I've been thinking about this a ton lately! I launched my first poetry book just a few months before the pandemic. I was so happy to have it finished and out into the world, I was planning a book tour and doing readings then: COVID happened. Now I have a dusty box of books under my bed.
It's been years since then, of course, but I struggled to get my mojo back for creative writing. I think there were many reasons: the combo of motherhood trenches, professional life, my intuitive/mediumship work, the giant wet-blanket that is hormonal change at this age. But also our culture's emphasis on "Things aren't worth doing unless they're validated as 'productive'". That just squashed my desire to create. If my art didn't advance a strategy toward something bigger - toward becoming a big deal in my creative space - why bother?
One GOOD think about aging in this phase of life is that I've moved into a place where I don't much care about that cultural view of what "achievement" means. I recently started writing poems again, bad ones, good ones, who knows!? No one sees them but me (so far) types of poems and it's a whole new mindset, whole new world.
This is such a rich topic to explore… and what I notice is an undercurrent of “creative” as an identity in our culture… a very western notion that we have to consistently “do” to be entitled to claim it.
For me, flipping it on its head to see creativity as the language of the heart (and our fire element), changed my relationship to it. What am I passionate about and love - those are my creative fuels and outlets. And when I work with clients, I ask what brings them joy, and they frequently go blank - as if they only know joy is in relationship to validation/service to others.
So we explore what they loved to do when they were younger… swing on the swings, color, blow bubbles, play in the waves at the beach…? I see these sweet memories as portals into our joy, creativity, and passion (all elements of the heart).
I love this: "creativity as the language of the heart (and our fire element)"
The way I found myself back to crochet is that in the midst of depression I read or heard somewhere to think of what you loved when you were 8 or 10 years old ... it's a time when typically you've still got all of that playfulness but you're old enough that it's somewhat self-directed so it points you to what's right for you!
Yes, exactly! I love that it worked wonders for you too!
Oh I love this. I'm looking for my 'creativity play' in my own life. I'm ejoying doing a daily watercolour sketch in my practice book. The challenge and the time available is meaning I'm getting better at enjoying the moments rather than focusing on perfection.
I often start the morning with a small collage or found poetry from images/words I've clipped out of magazines. Something tiny that's just about the process
Nice idea, thank you
I've been thinking about this a ton lately! I launched my first poetry book just a few months before the pandemic. I was so happy to have it finished and out into the world, I was planning a book tour and doing readings then: COVID happened. Now I have a dusty box of books under my bed.
It's been years since then, of course, but I struggled to get my mojo back for creative writing. I think there were many reasons: the combo of motherhood trenches, professional life, my intuitive/mediumship work, the giant wet-blanket that is hormonal change at this age. But also our culture's emphasis on "Things aren't worth doing unless they're validated as 'productive'". That just squashed my desire to create. If my art didn't advance a strategy toward something bigger - toward becoming a big deal in my creative space - why bother?
One GOOD think about aging in this phase of life is that I've moved into a place where I don't much care about that cultural view of what "achievement" means. I recently started writing poems again, bad ones, good ones, who knows!? No one sees them but me (so far) types of poems and it's a whole new mindset, whole new world.