1/25/2024
I wrote last week about surviving the winter blues and this week I am leaning into one of the beautiful things this season has to offer - space for quiet, introspection, and reflection.
For me, this space can feel overwhelming as I have quite a busy, passionate, and creative mind that is extremely skilled at imagining all the possibilities, but less inclined to imagine the execution of said possibilities. Can anyone relate? ;-)
As it turns out, when we don’t tap into our creativity energy, that energy finds somewhere else to live, often manifesting itself as some form of anxiety, depression, and even rage! So finding and utilizing creative outlets is crucial for mental health.
Being creative engages and frees the mind which enables the brain to be more efficient at learning and absorbing new wisdom and information. Best of all it encourages new ways of thinking and creates new pathways in the brain. Creativity challenges us, connects us with others, harnesses uniqueness, allows us to find our voice and new ways of communicating. It creates a sense of resilience and strength. It relaxes and grounds us and brings us closer to our intuition.
So as I sit here quietly on this cloudy day I’m getting creative with all the ideas on how you can get creative and tap into your curious side!
If you haven’t already been to VEME Studios in Greenport, I can’t recommend this experience enough! We went a few months ago and spent a couple joyful hours experimenting with clay, but the obsession has not stopped there. A few weeks later we attended a mug workshop with Melissa and learned all the basics of making a pottery mug of our own to take home (a few weeks later). I can’t tell you how obsessed I am with my new mug (I drink tea from it every night before bed)! But truly the best part of the experience was the process. Getting your hands dirty, using your mind in new ways, accepting imperfections, and channeling parts of yourself you may not have even known existed.
Other ways to tap into your creativity:
Get out into nature. Sounds, smells, fresh air…nothing better than connecting with nature to help a blocked mind! My best ideas come on my morning walks.
Play. A friend recently reminded me how important it is to play as an adult. Think playdough, hula hoops, board games, hide and seek, dancing, and puzzles. It elicits joy and creativity and it’s free!!
Learn something new. Try a Ted Talk or a book about archery. Pick something at random.
Journaling. Just write. No plan, no purpose, just write. Maybe draw. Set a timer, put a pencil to the paper and just get after it. See what happens!
Do something challenging. I’m a big fan of indoor rock climbing. It challenges the mind and the body and I always leave feeling better than I did when I arrived. It could be a mental or physical challenge and tit could be as simple as really trying to meditate and not just using the age-old excuse of “I can’t meditate”.
I would love to hear some of the ways you or others you know tap into their creativity. Please share!!!