Creativity is Intelligence Having Fun
Albert Einstein
When I first began my blog, I was in a very dark place. Ten years of undiagnosed chronic illness can strip away any sense of self, leaving you empty and bare. Nature hates a vacuum and so with my former life gone, I had to find other ways to exist in the world. The diminishing effects of illness forced me to find a way life and that takes time and a whole lot of exploration.
Being too unwell to do anything strenuous, my exploration led me to crochet, which surprised me as I was not a crafty/creative type of person. At least that’s what I told myself. As someone who had enjoyed life in the exciting world of broadcast media, music and public relations, I never imagined that crochet could ever bring me joy or satisfaction. The remarkable thing is that it brought me these and so much more.
Without realising it, I found myself slowly being engulfed, in a nice way, by the peace and stillness that comes from creativity. Learning a new skill requires concentration, making it a great way to still the mind. The rhythmic process of creating stitch after stitch makes your body feel like it’s floating in a beautiful calm sea. Watching a skein of wool slowly morph into a beautiful blanket is simply magical. It has become a tangible way for me to express and engage in creating beauty in the world. While creativity is a powerful way of bringing attention to social issues, it can also be a sublime way of connecting with the heart of our creative souls.
Engaging in a creative pursuit, whether it is gardening, cooking, designing houses, writing etc. has the potential to heal and open a path to self discovery. The health benefits include the calming effects of mindfulness because most creative acts require concentration so your mind can’t wander, worrying about your colleague’s rude comment, your shopping list, or that you forgot to call your mother. Your craft will demand your attention and in doing so, will put you into “The Zone”. Activities like gardening also have the added benefit of injecting you with sunshine, fresh air and a chance to exchange your negative energy for some positive earth giving power. Dancing is good for the heart, body and mind. Learning new dance steps stimulates the mind, music uplifts and inspires us, and emotionally, we benefit from the social interaction that comes from participating in group activities.
As a strongly visual person, I love seeing images that excite my brain and soul. Colour excites me and I easily lose myself in a sea of psychedelic rainbow. Colour and beautiful pictures bring peace and tranquility in what can at times, can seem like a harsh world, where we are increasingly surrounded by concrete and other hard and unnatural materials and structures. That’s why I strive to incorporate as many beautiful images in my posts as I can. I know that I feel uplifted by beautiful photos and artwork and so I want to fill my readers with not just inspiring words, but also with colour, magic and wonder, and a smattering of wisdom, when I find it.
Have you explored the power of creativity? If you are one of many people who feel intimidated by the idea of doing something creative, then start small. Place a bunch of wildflowers in a vase, bake a cake, or buy a colourful plant for your home. These are all acts of creativity. Start small. Don’t overthink it. Feel it and see where it takes you.
Wishing you a creatively explorative day. 🙂