Do This ONE Thing And Grow Your Creativity

OK, I realize that title makes a provocative promise, but it is absolutely true and has nothing to do with sending a chain email to 5 friends or communicating to a Nigerian prince.

The words “creativity” or “creative” can get weighed down by old messages we picked up as we walk around this world. Specifically, messages about what it is to create and who can do it.

Let me say, I totally get it. I literally spent years of my life bemoaning that I am not creative and I don’t do “x” as well as “so-in-so.” [WRITER’S NOTE: Of course “x” is a placeholder for things like “yadda yadda” or “blah blah blah”, while “so-in-so” can be swapped out for “what’s her face” or “that guy with the thing.”]

We think creating or creativity is reserved for certain people. While I have come to see that idea as total BS, rather than try to convince you of that, instead I invite you to swap out the word “create” with the word “play.”

When we try to “create” we can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to hit some benchmark and can judge whatever we do pretty harshly. #nofun

However, when we set out to “play” there is a greater likelihood we will be in the moment rather than worrying about where we end up. A “play” mindset is more likely to be open, flexible and curious. All of which just so happen to be great conduits for creativity to thrive. #ridethatwave

What if you selected an activity; maybe doodling, writing poetry, playing an instrument, or butter sculpting (yes that’s a thing) pull together whatever tools you think you may need and just let yourself play?

It’s not about the end result, which I know can be a shocking thought in a world where so much value is placed on our final output.

A recent example of this for me was when I was hanging out with a friend (Shout out: What up Rachael?) She had recently acquired a huge stack of paint swatches, like the kind you get in the paint department at a hardware store.

In talking about possible ways to repurpose and play with them, I wondered what it would be like to use a hole punch on the swatches to create dots that would then be glued to a page to create a picture. Sort of like anal-retentive pointillism.

She kindly gave me a handful of swatches and over the next week I committed to making time to play with that idea.

My only expectation was to see what this idea would look like and then share it with my friend.

After setting aside a few times to play the result was an image of an eye that I was really pleased with. I decided that there is still more playing to be done so I am now creating a larger image of a giraffe.

The most important rule of this kind of playing is to follow the things that you enjoy and drop the things that you don’t.

If I had done that initial eye image and concluded I would sooner punch myself in the eye rather than ever use a hole punch to create again, then I would have let that idea go and move on to the next shiny idea that does in fact catch my eye.

Another idea for my more structured friends, set a timer for however long you would like to play so it doesn’t feel so open ended. Something like “I will set a timer for 15 minutes to doodle flowers” or “I will give myself 30 minutes to write about that time I accidentally stabbed myself rather than set down my sandwich.” #truestory

Do you think you might give yourself some space to play this week?  Drop me a message at email@rebeccagallagher.com or leave a comment on this blog post at www.rebeccagallagher.com/blog.