Cultivating Creativity (Yes, You ARE Creative!)

Welcome to Tuesday’s with Chel.

Each week Chel Micheline of Gingerblue will offer her perspectives on our Bliss Habits. Please enjoy the wisdom and clarity she offers.

A few years ago I was working on a project with a neighbor of mine- she wanted me to create a necklace to match a beautiful hand-woven sweater she had recently purchased. We spent a few hours in my studio mixing different colors and laying out different designs until we came up with something she loved and something I looked forward to making.

At the end of our collaboration, she said to me: “You’re so lucky to be so creative! I wish I had the creative gene!”

Her comment threw me for a loop. Why? Throughout the process of designing a necklace for her, she had just as many ideas and creative input as I did, if not more. Also, she had a beautiful and impeccable sense of style, and she enjoyed spending time searching for beautifully made clothing and putting together different looks. She wasn’t extravagant- she just had an eye for what worked, what was well-made, and was very confident in her skin. I had always admired her style.

In my mind, she was just as much of a “creative soul” as I was. Her creativity shined through her personal style, her attention to detail, the consideration and thought she put into her appearance. I couldn’t believe that she didn’t see that as “creativity”! But in her mind, because she wasn’t actively *producing* something, she couldn’t consider herself creative. It sort of broke my heart, in a way.

There is a myth out there that creative people just have “it”. The definition of “it” can vary- some people consider it a special skill, others consider it a gift for expression, others believe it be a passion for living that for some reason they don’t possess.

The truth is this: there is no “it”. There is no magic gene for creativity. Creativity is a choice. It’s expression. It’s discipline. It can often be obsession. But it’s not something that only some of us possess- yes, there are those of us who are equipped with a great skill for drawing or writing or dancing, but usually creativity just another activity a person can choose to be make a part of their life. There are several things in life that I’m pretty good at but I don’t really enjoy, so I don’t do them often. It’s the same with any talent. It’s more about the desire to be creative than it is what you are creating.

And creativity isn’t just about art or writing or dance. For me, creativity has always been about a mix of a thoughtful approach with a sense of wild abandon – there’s some enchanted place right in the middle of those two things where I feel most alive. I love to plan art projects and ponder them, but I also love that open space in the middle where I can try new things and see what happens. It’s not always a success, but it’s always interesting and captivating.

And this mix of thought and abandon can happen anytime, anywhere- not just in the art studio, but in the garden, in the kitchen, on the back porch, in the grocery store, in the car, even in the laundry room. It’s just about putting some thought and passion into what you do. It’s about mixing it up a little bit.

About a year ago, I had a terrible creative block that lasted several weeks, so I took my cousin’s advice and started a small garden. To me, gardening was a relief because it seemed very calculated and planned. I didn’t have to think much about it. Plant a seed, water it, and it either grows or it doesn’t.

It was only a few months ago when I looked upon my (now huge) container garden that encompasses an entire chunk of my back lanai that I realized how creative this whole process has been. I constantly think about my plants and what to try next and what is working and what isn’t working. Without realizing it, I took risks (planting large plants in small containers), I tried new things (growing plants out of zone), and I constantly shifted things around and “played”. Some of the results were great, some not. But just getting out there every day and putting some thought into it, and losing myself in the process of cultivating a garden was an act of tremendous creativity.

Still, the word “creative” brings up a deep-seated fear in many of us that stops us in our tracks. Before you decide you’re not creative, how about testing the waters a little bit?

Just start exactly where you are in life. There’s no need to book time at art studio or go out and fill a cart at the local art shop or sign up for a year at a local culinary academy. By all means- if you think that will get your creativity flowing, then go for it! But if you just want to dip your toes in, then start smaller.

Pick out one thing about your daily life that you feel capable and confident about. Even if it’s not something that seems very creative and fun, choose something that you can approach with a sense of self-assurance. Then switch it up just the *tiniest* bit. If you cook dinner for your family every night, cruise down the herb aisle at the grocery store and pick up a flavored salt. Try substituting a different leafy green for spinach. Purchase a different type of juice for your family. Just try it for one meal or one week and if it works, great! Try something else. If not, you can go back. The greatest thing about creativity is that it can be so flexible.

Next step? Figure out what you like. If you want to be creative, but the idea of picking up a paintbrush makes you break out into a cold sweat, then don’t dare force yourself in that direction. Do something you will enjoy from beginning to end. Creativity doesn’t work when it’s forced- be authentic and honor yourself. Life is too short to force yourself to sit through a six week figure drawing class when you already know enjoy baking or crocheting.

So, if you enjoy working out, try a dance class. If you enjoy watching movies, try renting something in a genre you would normally never touch with a ten-foot pole. If you enjoy learning, look into what classes your community offers. You don’t even need to commit to anything, just explore what’s out there. Just open yourself to the possibilities- CONSIDER creativity rather than committing to creativity. Make room for creativity in your mind and start exploring where it can fit into your life.

Another tip is to splurge a little. If you’ve always wanted to paint or draw or write, go out and get yourself something to support that. Keep it simple, but allow yourself to explore the options. Even if you’re not ready to invest in your creativity, at least allow yourself to go to a local craft shop or office supply shop or any kind of shop that’s always appealed to you (Sur La Table or Whole Foods, your local nursery, a specialty paper store) and just explore a little.

When I wanted to start art journaling, I splurged on some paper tape from Japan I had always wanted but never had a use for. When it arrived, I immediately started pasting it down in a journal just to see what it looked like on paper. With that simple act, my art journal was born. One small purchase opened up a whole new creative outlet for me.

Finally, make creativity a priority, but don’t devote huge chunks of time to it- start small and specific. Giving yourself an hour every afternoon to “be creative” sounds really daunting, but if you tell yourself you are going to take 15 minutes before bed to jot a few lists in your journal or poke around an online shop that caters to an interest you have, it’s much easier to approach that task and stick to it. One step at a time.

The key to all of this is that you are ALREADY creative. You just don’t recognize it. I promise! Creativity isn’t about churning out gallery-ready paintings or writing an entire novel every summer, it’s about putting a new spin on something you love, and approaching different things in life with an open heart and mind.