Reconnecting to your Creativity

I’ll never forget a specific moment I shared with a stranger at a dinner party years ago. I can still remember how he reminded me of a youthful Santa, rosy-cheeked and beaming at me, cookie in hand.

“Are you an artist?” I asked him, noticing the fresh paint splatters on his arms and boots.

“Eh, you know, everyone’s an artist,” he shrugged simply back to me, attention already redirected to the dog who had wandered underfoot.

At the time I was a recent graduate, working through a sense of restlessness, as many students do. What did I want to do with my life? What did I even enjoy? I didn’t have any clear vision for myself. As I grew up and started to focus on how I would support myself as an adult, outlets for expression faded out of my life.

The stories I told myself as a college student had morphed from the childhood imagined adventures I scrawled down in diaries to repetitive lies: I am not talented enough. I am not creative. I despaired over my college catalog and skimmed over the creative majors my heart felt drawn to without any thought beyond: I am not talented enough. I am not creative.

Fast forward back to this dinner party: “eh, everyone’s an artist.”

The casual, pure way he said this will never leave me-- because it’s the truth. Everyone is an artist, and my journey of reconnecting to my own creativity has been one of the most exciting and engaging adventures I’ve experienced in my life!

“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner—continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you—is a fine art, in and of itself.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

First things first: connect to yourself to connect to your creativity. Show up for yourself and do some deep work by asking yourself:

What brings me the most joy?

When do I feel the most free?

If I could do anything, what would I do?

Work with creativity-boosting crystals like amethyst to help you visualize and invent, and try your best to let go of any feeling of guilt or inadequacy that might surface as you begin this process!

Once you’ve found what your soul is connected to, release yourself from any burden of self-criticism, comparison, and judgement that you might have accumulated through the years. This can be a difficult part of the process, but it’s vital; keep your intentions in check; you don’t need to be the next Picasso. You’re in this to enjoy and express yourself!

Just like mindfulness, creativity is like a muscle you can strengthen by exercising. Keep it in shape and show up to your art; you will begin to find yourself discovering more and more inspiration throughout the rest of your day! Carry a small notebook in your bag so when you do have these creative jolts, all your magical inspirations are kept safe until you can revisit them again. Build a ritual in your life around your creative time. Stay dedicated to finding that soul connection, free of judgement for how the project might turn out and rather in the simple, meditative joy of creation. The beauty of creating is that we will never be done with our art, and it will never be perfect; our creativity will continue to challenge us and evolve with us throughout our lives.

You are enough, and you deserve to express yourself fully. Happy creating!

Written by Melanie Rose 

Images from Pinterest