Everyone is Creative!

Remember the joy and excitement of being a young person and being given a new box of crayons? How about dancing, making up your own songs or writing poems? And who didn’t love spending the day in the forest building a fort or pretending you were cowboys and Indians?

Think back now, do you recall your last box of new crayons or the last fort you built? If you are like most of us those years and memories are faded to a collage of fond dream like visions. Our creative selves have given way to our need to mature and with the business of adulthood have become all but lost and forgotten. How can it be that most of us move from being art filled children into adults no longer in touch with the creative forces within?

As human beings we are hardwired to be creative.  Having a creative outlet is essential to our wellbeing. Truth is everyone is creative. True, not everyone chooses the path of a sculptor, painter, or dancer as a life career path but creativity is a life trait our species must express to thrive. Some say art (in all its forms) is an expression of the soul, others say that artistic outlets are vital for times when there are no words to express what we are feeling and many people believe that art is one of our strongest tools available to move beyond the ego and connect with our true selves.

There are innumerable articles written about the many benefits of having a creative outlet ranging from increasing early childhood development, cures for depression and mental illness to having physical healing properties. There is also the idea of creating art simply because it is fun. In the case of drawing or painting as an outlet it can feel really rewarding to transform a vision or feeling that has been on your mind or buried in your memory and bring it to light to share with the world or to simply release it from your heart.

Creativity can take many shapes. Look into your life today and see where your creativity is waiting to take shape. Spending an hour or two of creative time a week you could dramatically improve the relationship you have with yourself. When we are happy with self we are able to be happy with others. I thank god for my beautiful, messy, creative life and I wish the same for yours!