I know it has been a while since I last wrote a post. The one thing that struck me is: wow, time has passed so quickly! I for one get those reminders running through my head that I could be much more active in pursuing things that I enjoy most. Things like reading a good book, spending more time outdoors, learning new skills, or something crafty like making stuff, playing music, painting or writing. I have so many ideas… and then I get distracted by everyday life. If we don´t pay attention and slow down a bit the little pleasures of life that spark our joy don’t get a chance.
Well, that leads me to my today´s topic of How to light your creative spark !
One of our very basic treats in every single one of us is creativity ! The tricky bit is to figure out how we express ourselves and what floats our boat. Not everyone is the arty type and that is completely fine. One maybe loves to paint or write, the other one likes to build something and a third one lives creativity by creating spreadsheets! The ways how we can express ourselves are endless.
In a moment of creative flow I painted this modern cubistic impression of a sunset. The colours and shapes were inspired by that magical transition that we can witness on a daily basis – weather permitting. In the foto the light doesn’t really do the colours justice, but you get the idea.. 😉
What would I recommend to get into the flow?
1. Decide on something and then go do it!
Haha sounds easier than done, but most of the time we find excuses why now would not be the right moment or something is not quite right. Get to it, you just have to start!! And if it is just 15 minutes. Once the initial hurdle is overcome, it flows by itself. Trust the process!
2. Look or listen to inspiring material, such as articles, songs, books, videos etc.
Find what you like and what strings a chord inside you. With the help of the internet we have so many ressources at our hands, it is mind boggling. You can find tutorials on nearly everything! A book or article, a video or something your neighbour said could spark inspiration. It could be even something you see while going for a walk. You never know when it comes to you! The important bit is to keep an open mind.
3. Practice, practice, practice
We might look at a painting or musician and think: oh wow, I would like to be able to do that too, but I don´t have the skills …… Well, the painter or musician spent hours and hours to hone their skill set. No master has yet fallen from the sky. Even Mozart practiced hard before he became the master composer that he was. So try to keep at it and you will get better and more skilled! Don’t give up!
4. Build a habit
Here it would be great to make an appointment with yourself. You might have heard that it takes about 21 days to build a habit. Different people might give different numbers, but the essential information is the same. Put it into your calendar if that helps.
A very good book I read about creativity and building a habit is Julia Cameron’s book “The artist’s way”. I put a link down at the bottom of the page.
5. Find a teacher/mentor
We can self teach ourselves a lot of things, but at some stage you might reach a level where you might get stuck and don’t really progress as much. Find a teacher or mentor to give you that additional push. When I started playing the bodhrán, the Irish frame drum, that’s exactly what happened. The progress I made during classes was remarkable and it gave me the base for all the other percussions that I have taken on since.
6. Meditation
Although meditation might not be “directly linked” to creativity, having a regular practice can clear your monkey mind from the busy highway of thoughts rushing past you. You calm down and are more susceptible to what is going on inside you and allow it to come forward. Meditation doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to sit in stillness and breathe. There are so many different types of meditation, such as listening to calm music, walking meditation, visualization etc. I will cover more on this in a separate article soon. You simply have to find the one that works for you.
On a personal note: You might have heard that I lead dancing meditations called Express your inner goddess in Dublin on a regular basis. It can be found on Meetup and once the situation has cleared I will open new dates. Link below.
The order of suggestions up there can be swapped around, whichever suits your lifestyle, daily practice or needs.
Amongst other things, listening to The sacred medicine podcast with Margaret A. Romero, episode 1, gave me inspiration to write this article. I really enjoyed listening to it.
So, that’s it from me today. I hope this has given you some inspiration to let your creative spark out! I won’t leave it as long until next time. Promise!
xx Pia
Links:
Julia Cameron – “The artist’s way”
www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Discovering-Recovering-Creative/dp/0330343580
Check out Express your inner Goddess – Dance Meetup
