How do you love your creative self?
Because you’re reading this article, I’m going to assume you’ve met your creative self. This is the part of us that thrives in the world of possibilities, the world of questions, the world of color, sound, and dreams. It’s a “what-if” sort of world.
Some see this part of us as untrustworthy, ungrounded, flighty, and impractical. This is true to some extent, but true creatives don’t care. Once we access this part of ourselves most of us never want to let go. The life of a creative is too engaging and alluring to let a small thing such as practicality get in our way (though I will admit that sometimes we must).
Do you woo your creative self, your muse? I read a delightful novel called The Painter’s Girl by Helen Fripp. I generally don’t enjoy historical fiction but loved this book. Set in 1860’s Paris, we follow Mimi Bisset, born in the slums, as she catches and rides a renegade zebra, joins the circus performing on the highwire, is injured which leads her to meet some young men who she sees sneaking into the Big Top and sketching performers and circus life.
Mimi sketched from childhood and has always wanted to be an artist. She develops friendships with some young men of her time, men such as Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Degas, and other impressionist painters. We follow her love of painting and the things she did so she could develop her creative self despite living in a time when women weren’t encouraged to do this.
The reason I’m mentioning this story is because even though Mimi faced many challenges, not the least of which was finding her daughter, a daughter born out of wedlock who was sent to live with her father, Mimi never let go of her inner creative. Throughout the story, no matter what else was going on in her life, we follow the thread of how she followed and encouraged her creative self.
This leads me back to my original question: how do you love your creative self? What importance does that part of you receive from you? Do you put those thoughts and desires on a back burner: “I’ll really create once the kids are older…or I change jobs…or have a baby…or, or, or….?” Or “I can’t spend money on more pencils or better paper, more classes or tutorials…”
Does everything else come first in your life? Is your creative self relegated to a cold, dark basement yearning to see light and draw a breath of fresh air?
Why? I ask all of us: why? As a society and a culture, we tend to put creativity to the side until we have time or inclination for it. The only people who are encouraged to use their creativity openly are people in technology and science. The rest of us are actively discouraged. How about we change that? How about we start acknowledging that our creative spirit is important and worthy of our love and devotion?
Here are some beginning ideas. Instead of cramming your creativity into found moments, put these pursuits front and center on your agenda. So, you must get up an hour earlier or stay up a bit later or eat a cold lunch instead of going to a restaurant. So what?
Create a special place and time for your creative pursuits. Even a tiny corner of a room or the inside of a rarely used closet can be your special place where the muse is invited out to play.
I know you will come up with other ideas that suit your particular personality and life-style. It is time for you to love and honor your creative self. Be proud of him or her. Let them shine and see the rewards sent your way.
Creating with joy, grace, and ease,
Krysta
I like the movie The Muse and watch it at least once a year. Beyond that, I was raised in a home where creativity came first...Mom an artist and art teacher and Dad one of her faithful students. My sister too is a professional artist while I've journeyed through about every area of professional writing including teaching it which is one of the ways I honor my creativity. Also as the editor of magazines, I honored creativity in by publishing good works and good artists, photographers, and writers. When my Muse speaks to me, it gives plenty of physical messages like a feeling of delight, softened muscles, a sense of ease. While I'm involved, I'm held to it. Other things can wait. My mind and my body (and anyone who lives with me) give up on interrupting what I'm doing. If they don't, I first ignore and then remind...."Hey, there's a crate over there where cats who walk across my keyboard can hang out for a while. I realize as I say all this that I'm so grateful for parents/a family that so valued our creativity...gathered around one of Dad's inventions--a huge round table--we'd talk all at once--exciting ideas shared and ways to create turning into creating. Did you know that hanging a plastic sandwich bag filled with colored jello crystals can be hung from the skylight, then swung in circles and other shapes so that a small hole will create beautiful patterns on the big white table? This lengthy comment is an example. Time now to go to the store. :-)
Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were a holiday once a year just to celebrate creativity? Where the idea is to take the day off and pursue and celebrate whatever creative endeavor makes your heart sing?