It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! August’s theme is creativity. Whether your dreams involve painting or writing or growing food or taking lots of naps, tapping into your creativity is an important part of changing your life.
We all have amazing creative potential. It sounds schmaltzy, but it’s true. People are incredibly good problem-solvers, it’s our primary advantage over the rest of the animals. We can look at a stick and see countless ways to use it. We build buildings and computer networks and create amazing works of art. We bake and we sew and we knit and we woodcraft and we turn iron ore into steel and we capture it all in photographs. Each and every one of us has this creative power in us, and when we get together and combine forces we can do truly amazing things.
Being creative isn’t just useful, it feels good. When I am making something with my whole heart, there is immense joy in it. I work harder and I work better. And the best way that I know to bring that kind of creativity to what I do is to set aside time to intentionally create. The more that you flex that muscle, the stronger it gets. Taking time out of the daily grind to make your art, whatever your art happens to be, is important. Even when you don’t have the time. Maybe especially when you don’t have the time.
When I was in engineering school, I learned that if I gave my mind breaks, I was more productive. I could come back to a problem with fresh eyes, and see things that I hadn’t seen before. Often, while I was away and focused on something entirely different, I would even have an epiphany that helped me when I got back to work. By giving my mind a little freedom, it did its work more effectively. It used the creative energy I got in my recreation time to attack the task before me.
This is all very pertinent for me, because right now I’m not making the time to be creative. Even though my day-to-day is more obviously creative now – writing instead of computer programming – there really is no difference in my need to take a break and practice being creative in other ways. Almost any task can be creative, whether it’s typically viewed that way or not. Even making spreadsheets can be a creative task, honestly. You can bring art and joy to anything, and it gets easier the more that you do it.
When I’m not writing, I practice creativity by sewing and knitting. That works for me, but it might not work for you. The way that I take a break doesn’t have to be your way. It doesn’t matter how you practice creativity. But I’m certain that if you do, it will help you look at the world in new ways. And that can be a really amazing thing. So I plan to set aside some time to do some sewing for myself this month. As I write about creativity, I will practice creativity, too.
How do you give your brain a chance to rest from the daily grind and practice creativity? How do you change your perspective and bring fresh eyes to a task? I’d love to hear!
August’s Crafting my Life series is about creativity. On the last Thursday of the month, which just happens to be the 26th, I will include a link up. To participate, write a post on creativity anytime in August, or track down a post you’ve written on the subject sometime in the past, and add yourself to the list. Then read everyone else’s ideas and thoughts and be inspired! Check out the link-ups from January, February and March to get a feel for how it works.
I started scrapbooking a couple of years ago and really liked it — it was the one thing at that time I could totally get absorbed in (besides reading, which I do a little too much of). I moved all my stuff downstairs and now I never do it (also there was a hilarious but really negative little exchange about it in an episode of Dexter – I don’t think that had anything to do with it, though). I need to get back to it, not least because of the metric ton of pretty paper that needs to be used. But blogging has been my main ‘new’ creative outlet since last January.
allison’s last post … In Praise of Zarah- Or- How I Am an Asshole
Is there such thing as too much reading? ; )
I also enjoy the time to be creative. It is relaxing (most of the time) but challenging with a busy house full of kids. This week I am sewing some applique animals on to my daughters duvet cover and making blueberry pies. I tole my husband recently that I like doing these projects just to see if I can. Also I sort of enjoy other peoples oohs and ahhs when they find out I made these things myself.
I really need to force myself to take more creativity breaks. I’m hoping to get my sewing machine soon and get back to sewing.
Summer’s last post … Fathers Are Parents Too
Unfortunately I’m not that good at this….sometimes. I’ll have my groove on and feeling really good: writing posts, linking up, researching something and then I’m done, but I don’t stop. An hour later I’m computer cracked out and have lost my sense of purpose. blech.
I need to remind myself to switch to more tactile forms like knitting and writing letters. Once I have another project it’s easy to move back and forth and feel good about it.
my whole life/sanity revolves around creativity but i think that for me, the taking a break from the daily grind is getting out and about otherwise i spend too much time in the home. i’m also all about portable crafting so i usually have a number of projects, each suited to different surroundings, on the go which i can pick and leave the house with. i also try to vary my creative work too, some if is for the business and breaks down into standard repeats plus novel projects, and some is for me or my family e.g. knitting projects, embroidery, and so on. the variety seems to suit and i’m sure the sanity benefits
pomomama aka ebbandflo’s last post … crafty take aways
I love coloring, always have. I was even coloring before my son was born. It’s relaxing and I love the how smooth the crayon glides on the paper. I love tracing the black lines in the book and then coloring the insides. It’s almost like a puzzle and I test myself to see how consistent I can be with holding the same pressure as I press down on the crayon to the paper.
I also like to read, particularly biographies. Right now I’m reading one called Healing Hearts. It’s written by a female heart surgeon and how she fell in love with her career and also how she balances her life as a Mom. So far so good!
I do like to make blueberry pies too, I wish I could make them more often but unfortunately my husband doesn’t eat them. I don’t want to be stuck with a whole pie to myself.
Sara’s last post … Tent
I think I might be addicted to making things, especially making things I’ve never done before. Last year, I discovered canning right at the end of the summer. I made one batch of blueberry jam and was HOOKED. Then it was seville orange marmalade in January and now it’s dill pickles and raspberry jam and blackberry jam and I think I might do lavender jelly next. There is something about the magic of transforming supplies into a useful product that keeps me coming back – yarn into sweaters, berries into jam, wool into yarn or words into articles. I love it, and can’t imagine a life without creative pursuits in it.
I completely agree with you and the power of creativity! I love how you expressed it so beautifully in words. Fitting in time for creativity is hard but important. For this reason I recently started the group Photo Moms on Modern Mom and I’ve committed myself to contributing to it every Wednesday. It has helped me be more in touch with my creative side.
Wendy Irene’s last post … What is the Meaning of Balance
I think blogging is one of the most creative activities I’ve ever done. And I do it almost daily. And I love it:)
Francesca’s last post … Fridays Flowers stylized triangle bouquet
As a guy, I’m not into crafting but I do agree with Francesca that blogging is also a very creative activity.