Creativity: The Art of Creative Living.
Creativity has long been synonymous with beauty and aesthetics. Yet, in our current era of global digital transformation and pressing social issues, creativity enables the rise of social consciousness and fosters human understanding.
Humans are habitually creative creatures that carry unique gifts and talents. But how can more people tap into and develop their creativity? Read along to dig deep.
How to tap into your creativity:
Enhancing creativity involves adopting a critical lens that transcends a singular perspective. By embracing diverse viewpoints and integrating alternative methods into our creative processes, artists (creatives, individuals, professionals) can broaden their comprehension of the world, enriching their work with depth and insight.
In essence, creativity enables a holistic and alternative approach to living. Creativity disconnects from conventional modes of fulfilling duty and obligation in a capitalist society that often prioritises hustle over harmony. It encourages us to engage from a place of wonder and child-like curiosity, embracing imperfection and welcoming mistakes as part of our evolution and discovery. Allowing imperfection and releasing judgment enables our evolution to unfold naturally and authentically.
Overcoming perfectionism & unlocking creativity
Creativity is a messy evolution toward discovering your purest assets, ready to be brought into reality and contribute to the world around you, an evolution of learning as you go. Please don’t place your creative ideas on the back burner out of the fear of perfectionism, and nothing starts perfect.
Believe in your craft and vision. Believe in your capability to improve. You are worth more than withholding your ideas. Failure, detours, and mistakes are the journey towards discovery and learning.
“Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart" - Elizabeth Gilbert
Creativity and Spirituality
Creativity, in a spiritual sense, provides a sense of wonder and a degree of open-mindedness not always found in the means of objectivity and limitation. Creative thinking offers alternative perspectives and unique problem-solving beyond traditional thinking.
Culture and creativity create a free space to challenge, transform and exert energy and visions into art, material, language and other artistic mediums.
Creative resistance:
We have the ability to possess power and generate energy towards parts of the world that don't have this. When systems collapse and injustice strikes, our creative resistance is the world's lifeline and engine to generate noise and action. In this way, creativity saves lives.
One of my favourite modes of creative resistance is fashion. The Nol Collective demonstrates this perfectly by using fashion as an art medium to connect creativity and resistance in solidarity with Palestinian Liberation.
Creativity + Childhood:
Creativity reminds us to retain the elasticity we had as children when we were interested in everything while maintaining the need to criticise and question our ideas and beliefs.
Our diverse skills (both analytical and creative) can co-exist and collaborate. It is a balance that all geniuses possess. Use them as a collaborative effort that enables you to solve problems by forming alternative solutions and options.
Think about your child self. What did you love to do?
What colours, toys, activities, sports or places did you feel drawn to? I believe in the power of doing what you love for a living or integrating your interests and passions in your jobs, lifestyles, hobbies and habits. Our creativity and passions are inherent skills we can access anytime. All you have to do is make space to tap in and create.
As a child, I remember having a little pink desk and office chair with my favourite stationary and notebooks. I loved pretending to be a ‘receptionist’ shuffling through (my dad’s) ‘paperwork’. Looking back, I can clearly see my inherent passion for entrepreneurship, writing, and creating something of my own.
Concluding thoughts:
Allow your creativity to emerge slowly. Give yourself space to evolve with your craft. The tendency to wait or judge only slows your creative evolution down. You are here to thrive and transcend beyond traditional thinking.
Culture and creativity create a free space to challenge, transform and exert energy and visions into art, material, language and other artistic mediums.
