Creatively Speaking

By Valerie Garner

A friend recently mentioned how she found her first store where you can paint your own pottery and how this was new to her. She was very animated while sharing this and about her desire to go there and paint everyday. You could see her passion for this hobby growing.

Then she said a statement in the conversation that completely took me aback, "I've never done anything like this before in my life, I'm one of those people who have no talent, or an artistic bone in my body." I asked her if she really truly thought that about herself, and she said that she did feel that way.

I do not believe that about any person. I believe especially in people who haven't found their "niche" yet, that there is a wealth of hidden, undiscovered talent, which just hasn't been found yet. I love meeting people like this because to me, I sense a treasure hunt.

I've found in my own life in seasons where I was not creating in some form, that I just felt slightly "off". Something was missing. I think we as a people are born with a need to express creativity. Sometimes it requires a process to discover what the blockages to that process may be in a person.

Expand your ideas of what you consider creativity to be. Art isn't just drawing, painting or writing. Nearly anything can be an art form. I've seen gardens for instance that were truly a work of art to see. There is basket weaving, knitting, spinning your own yarn and too much to list. Try going to some art shows or doing some research to explore various forms you hadn't considered before. Most people doing these forms of art, didn't just start on their own, most had instruction and much practice and that skill had to be developed. Consider investing in some lessons in something that interests you.

Take some time discovering some areas of interest for yourself. What are you drawn to? Where are you curious about how it was created and the process to make it? What are some things you love to do? Those are good areas to begin researching. Consider taking some lessons to see if the interest increases or decreases once you dabble in it.

Invest in yourself. Take a class, get a book or find a possible mentor. Put into action a commitment to learn. Each one who has mastered a skill goes through a learning process and starts at step one. Start. Put away the excuses and fears. It doesn't have to be perfect; you don't even need to show it to others if you don't want to. Give yourself permission to fail, but give it enough time and dedication to see if it's something that fits you or not. If it doesn't, move on to try something else, but keep looking until you find that fit.

Creativity isn't just about what we're doing. It's also about who we are as people. When we begin to move in our creativity, it will affect others around us as well. Its so amazing when you see that spark of creativity begin to spark creativity in those around us as well.

About the Author:

By Valerie Garner who loves to find new
creative ideas with regards to home and life in general. Drop by her site for lots of ideas for making life more comfortable.