“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” – Mary Lou Cook
What is creativity? A simple Google search for "creativity" results in many links and sources to get lost in. I found that this link from one of my favorite knowledge resources defines it well:
www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/creativity (an article about creativity worth reading)
“Creativity encompasses the ability to discover new and original ideas, connections, and solutions to problems. It’s a part of our drive as humans—fostering resilience, sparking joy, and providing opportunities for self-actualization.
An act of creativity can be grand and inspiring, such as crafting a beautiful painting or designing an innovative company. But an idea need not be artistic or world-changing to count as creative. Life requires daily acts of ingenuity and novel workarounds; in this sense, almost everyone possesses some amount of creativity.”
We are all creative. Engaging in creative activities, learning from creative efforts, "mistakes", and "successes", feeling drawn forward on a journey of creation, and recognizing the sense of purpose and meaning that comes from creating, I believe, nourishes the human spirit.
For me, photography has become my primary creative outlet, but I also enjoy other activities that involve both thinking and feeling, seeing and hearing, stirring the imagination, and engaging the mind:
Writing, Cooking, Problem-solving, Jigsaw puzzling, Music, Reading ….
For others, there are so many other creative pursuits, just a small list coming to mind, and I apologize for all acts of creativity I have missed:
Painting, Ceramics, Woodworking, Computer programming, Crafting of any sort, Gardening, Dancing, Performing, Entertaining, Child rearing, Pet training, Flower arranging, Arranging store displays, Restoring antiques, Painting Warhammer miniatures ….
My point for this post:
Creativity belongs to all of us and is unique to each of us. Finding the spur or the spark for a new creative interest, reaching a higher skill level, or discovering a new direction for an existing creative interest can guide us on the creative path.
Discover your creative passions, enter your creative zones, and take pride in your efforts and results. Listen and learn with an open mind from valuable critique. Above all, give yourself the freedom to create and then create with freedom!
I will suggest this list of free-from words and ideas to consider when beginning and continuing any creative endeavors:
Engage
Learn
Start
Stop
Move
Pause
Practice
Start simple
Keep it affordable
Next week, I intend to address the above free-form ideas in more depth, as they speak to me, and as a guide for others.
I invite feedback from readers for a variety of perspectives about creativity.
If my writings in this photography project can benefit anyone on their creative journey, I am proud to be of service!
#Creativity52 #creativity #photography #art #innovation #crafts #hobbies #photographyproject #photoproject #Recovery52