Creativity is not a talent; it’s a way of operating. – John Cleese
I hear people say far too often: “I don’t have a creative bone in my body. ” They see creativity as this mystical energy reserved for a handful of poets, painters, and dancers. My answer to this…B.S.!!
We’re ALL creative people…we’re creating our lives every day! And cultivating even more creativity might be just the key you need to take your work or personal life to the next level. Research has shown that those who succeed in business often have a high level of creativity, and Harvard psychology professor Ruth Richards says that engaging in creative behaviors makes us more conscious, dynamic, open, observant, collaborative and courageous.
The best thing is you don’t have to become a full-time sculptor, join a drum circle, or move to Paris to cultivate creativity (although all of those would be AWESOME)… You can start sparking your creativity in your everyday life through even the most mundane activities, like cooking or making a business presentation or getting dressed. Creativity is about exploring and expressing who you are and your feelings about life through some sort of medium, whether that medium is gardening, rapping, jewellery, or journaling.
So, this week I’m going to challenge you to do an experiment… Each day I want you to try and add a creative flair to something you do regularly. I’m going to help you jump-start this mission with a bunch of simple ideas below on how to bring juicy creativity into your everyday life.
Creativity is one of the most effective ways to come ALIVE in this life, so let’s bring on the creativity injections…
15 Ideas for Everyday Creativity
1. Change the wallpaper on your devices to reflect where you’re at. Great site for desktop: http://wallpaperswide.com and for mobile/tablet: http://www.mobileswall.com.
2. Check into your strongest feeling today, put on a song that reflects that feeling, and dance it out!
3. Have a 5-minute brainstorm session for names of that project or business you’ve been wanting to grow.
4. Dress with a creative twist – maybe there’s a vibrant scarf you could turn into a skirt or some vintage cufflinks you could add to a modern jacket.
5. Compose your next email using multiple colors and fonts.
6. Do some cloud gazing and see what images you can find (looking at clouds…not just for children!)
7. Try answering the phone with a different greeting for every call today. Extra points for being a little naughty!
8. For dinner tonight, arrange the food on the plates creatively.
9. Write a short story about something that happened in your day.
10. Start your presentation at a business meeting with an interactive exercise.
11. Get that old guitar/drum/tuba out and just do a little playing around.
12. Take an object and break it into parts…whether that be an old cell phone, an acorn, or an engine.
13. Doodle a feeling: tune into what you’re feeling in the moment and draw a visual representation of it.
14. Ask yourself a question and then brainstorm a list of at least 10 answers.
15. Do an interpretive dance to tell someone a story (maybe don’t try this with your boss).
“Remind yourself that this moment is not merely happening to you. It is happening through you.” – Ralph Marston
Written by Kimberly Carroll
Kimberly Carroll is a Body/Mind/Spirit Expert, television host/producer, & activist whose popular personal development bootcamps have been helping transform and ignite lives around the world. With a cheeky and down-to-earth approach, Kimberly is an entertaining and loving guide for people delving into the world of personal growth, spirituality, and conscious living. She’s been featured in the Globe and Mail, as a regular on Newstalk 1010’s “The Buddha Lounge”, and is one of the authors of the award-winning anthology “Soul Whispers”. Her next LIFE REBOOT PROGRAMS (7 weeks to tune in, power up, & create the life and world you love!) start Jan. 26 (in-person in Toronto) and early spring (online/tele-program). She also does private coaching in-person or long distance.
