Everyone is Creative

Creativity is the fundamental nature of the universe. It is the process of creation itself, not just random insights of a few creative people. It is a basic, everyday, human capacity.

There are many different perspectives about what creativity is and what it means. Webster's Dictionary definition is simply "the ability to create" and the Oxford Languages dictionary defines it as "the use of imagination or original ideas, especially in art." Many people think of creativity in relation to artists or "creative people", and may categorize themselves as creative or not creative. In our modern world, the potential for creative processes to have an impact on business models has been more prominent and incorporated into daily practices for new ideas to emerge towards successful bottom lines.

Everyone is creative…it’s how we work. We have creative minds and spirits meaning we have the ability to create things. Create with our hands, our minds, our bodies. We all have the ability to come up with solutions to problems and that takes creativity. Not just artists have the use of their creativity, although they may be more tapped into that inherent part of themselves. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go 'round, and we each have a natural affinity for certain types of work or ideas, based on who we are. Some kinds of work or projects require a formula or a prescribed way of doing it to get the best result, but that doesn't mean that creativity can't play a part in how that formula gets used.

We may not be fully aware of all the decisions we make, but whether it's conscious or not, we create our lives the way they are. It may not always feel that way to many of us, as we can feel forced into certain roles, certain positions in our society, and feel like we had nothing to do with how our lives are lived. Although this may be true to some extent, given we live in a world of inequality and disparity, creativity opens up the possibility to change it and to make decisions that move us into a place of infinite potential.

"It opens our hearts and doors to our mind. It brings us to hidden parts of ourselves. It allows recognition of uniqueness and identity. It can help draw out what is already there within - hidden talents and inner capacities can emerge. It connects us with our passions."

This is just one reflection received by a group of 30 young people who immersed themselves in creativity, reflection, and connection to each other and then shared their own reflections from the experience. This exercise was was done through the National Youth Council of Ireland (nyci) and focused on why creativity is important and what it contributes to our how we view the world and potentially make changes in it.

We have the capacity for creativity at all times in our daily lives. We use it to make decisions about how we decorate our homes, what we wear, how we put ourselves out into the world. We are creating all the time, even if we don't realize it. We can nurture that creativity through regular practices, like pursuing interests that energize us, taking time out for regular meditation and reflection, spending time in nature, trying a hobby just for fun. Trying anything new or different can expand our minds and hearts into more possibility and help us tap into our creative spirit.

In "The Artist's Way" (not just for artists), Julia Cameron teaches the use of "Morning Pages" which is 3 pages every day of free writing first thing in the morning, as a fundamental practice for tuning into our creative selves. Any type of journaling for self-reflection can have a great impact on our understanding of ourselves and help us navigate through our thoughts, our emotions, our awareness. Some people use journaling along with their yoga practice, to reflect on it and process anything that may have come to the surface during their practice.

What are some of the ways you like to tap into your own creativity? How do you see creativity showing up in your daily life? Bring some awareness this week to how you go about your day, and see if you can notice any times that you're using your natural creative ability. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

This week at Roots & Space is our monthly Mandala Meditation workshop that was created for exactly this purpose of tapping into and exploring or unique creativity and the possibilities it holds for us. We incorporate meditation into the workshop to provide focus and intuitive connection, and provide a safe, non-judgemental space to relax, create, and have fun. We'd love for you to join us!