Everyday Creativity - Do You Have It?

 

In the world of creative, crafty bloggers, I am often both amazed and skeptical of the ability to be so wonderfully creative EVERY day. Yes, I realize that bloggers oftentimes have a little treasure trove of posts built up and that every day is not a perpetual trip to the craft store or a mega foodie adventure into the unknown. And yet, there are those people that live incredible, inspired lives... and know it... and write or photograph it.

And then there are the rest of us, are we truly creative? The Huffington Post recently linked to an article in Psychology Today entitled "Everyday Creativity." It's rather long for a web article but has some fascinating examples of the simplest forms of creativity (different eyeshadow or hairstyle, choosing your words every time you speak). There's also some focus on the tendencies/personalities of "creative" people - which, if you're like me, you immediately read over and see if you fit the bill. Example:

"They share a tendency toward open-mindedness and curiosity, they are persistent, and they are positive, energetic, and intrinsically motivated by their chosen activities. Whether engaging in everyday creativity could foster such personality traits in the conventionals remains a question, but other studies show that taking up creative pursuits actually makes people more flexible and less judgmental."

Not convinced? Creativity Portal even has a checklist of the 32 traits of creative people - and suggests that "sometimes it is helpful to deliberately practice particular traits to release my creativeness when I am feeling stale, dull, or blocked. We all experience creative block at times. The causes may be situational, physical, emotional, mental, relational or even undefinable."

While I'm not particularly convinced that someone can practice creativity, I'm also  
reminded of writing exercises, the sketches that painters make before the "real thing". I suppose this is practicing creativity. I've certainly experienced writer's block - should I have worked on being a better a non-conformist or being more "fluent"? Jury's still out - I guess I'm of the mindset that by forcing creativity you end up with something that isn't really "you."

I did find some inspiration in another article from PT. The author includes insight into the painting hobby of Winston Churchill - a sort of "imaginative play." I found Churchill's writing about his hobby incredibly heartfelt - maybe you will, too. Meantime, I will leave you with a tidbit from the creativity experts over at Psychology Today - 

"Hobbyists are amateurs - that is to say, the most intrinsically motivated of lovers. They court their pastime, not for conquest or for gain, but for pure pleasure. Hobbies are, quintessentially, forms of play, much like the rough and tumble, make-believe and constructive games that fill early and middle childhood. And as play, hobbies involve us in 1) making things of our own... 2) gaining personal knowledge...  and 3) learning new skills...   

In the doing, hobbies also cultivate personal creativity, that capacity we all share for heartfelt experience, unique thought and meaningful expression of what matters to us most."