It's elusive, we tap into and fall out of it. We all have have a greater capacity for creativity than we realize. In some ways it's too complex and mystical to fully define. It can show up as painting, ceramics, poetry, singing, connecting people, healing work, creating community, or solving a math equation amongst an infinite number of others. Since I was a wee babe I had always been tapped in, curious, creating in different mediums. It was a natural expression throughout my childhood.
So it's ironic that going to design school killed off a lot of my joy in creativity. It turned creativity into a mental, goal and deadline-oriented process. After I graduated and started my own design and branding business the message was, "Focus. Don't waste your time with distractions or your business won't grow. You won't have enough." The voice of fear always chattering in the background. I did just that for 11 years until I burned out, resentful of my work and clients.
I finally came to a crossroads, stop what I'm doing or find a new way of being in it. I started to see the prison walls that voice of fear had built around me. I gave myself permission to explore again. I studied yoga, Reiki, got a Masters in Spiritual Psychology and taught transformational workshops. I was drawn to learn these modalities and at the same time wondered what in the hell I was doing. I started seeing how everything that sparked my interest was an inner wisdom guiding me. It eventually guided me to ceramics classes on the wheel and Hallelujah, my creativity began to flow again.
It was such a rich and creative outlet for me where I could settle into the flow and hours would fly by. It was the first time I was creating purely for the bliss I got from it since I was a kid. I started sharing my pieces on social media and people wanted them. This wasn't part of the plan but it was happening. I was being true to myself and my creative expression and everything was flowing together.
Now the opportunity is to stay true to the creative spark inside me rather than focusing on what I "should" be making. It gets tricky in business. Yes, there are orders to fill and I am so grateful for that. The key for me has been to remember to play and trust what is flowing through me, continuing to experiment, evolve and enjoy the moment right now.
Where have you been limiting yourself and your expression? How have you been talking yourself out of things you want to do and instead doing what you "should" do? What's one thing you've been wanting to try or learn forever? Something that is you choose to explore because it's fun. Give yourself permission and see what happens.
Peace,
Deniz