Ten for Creativity Day.16- Focus.

{source}

It’s a new week and I’m back with project: 10.  I spent half of last week in a creative daze and the other half in an daze of exhaustion from taken care of a sleepless, teething toddler. 

I hope that you were able to continue your creative pursuits and devote time to seeking inspiration.  As we return to the project, I wanted to share some really great insights on creativity from one remarkable source.  I’ve mentioned The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron many times and if you haven’t picked up a copy… that’s silly. 

On her website, Julia answers some questions about creativity, here are a few great answers that I’d like us to consider today.

Q. What is the most common misconception about creativity?

A: The most common misconception is that we would have to leave our current lives in order to pursue our dreams. It is easier for us to use our jobs, families, financial situations, time obligations, etc., as a way (or ways) to keep us "safe" from the anxiety caused by stepping out of our comfort zones into the creative process. When we allow ourselves to be thus thwarted, we deny ourselves tremendous joy. The most effective way to center confront blocks is to form creative cluster groups in the lives we're already leading.

Q. Is true creativity the possession of a small number of people?

A: No, absolutely not. We are all creative. Creativity is a natural life force that all can experience in one form or another. Just as blood is part of our physical body and is nothing we must invent, creativity is part of us and we each can tap into the greater creative energies of the universe and pull from that vast, powerful spiritual wellspring to amplify our own individual creativity.
As a culture, we tend to define creativity too narrowly and to think of it in elitist terms, as something belonging to a small chosen tribe of "real artists." But in reality, everything we do requires making creative choices, although we seldom recognize that fact. The ways in which we dress, set up our homes, do our jobs, the movies we see, and even the people we involve ourselves with these all are expressions of our creativity. It is our erroneous beliefs about creativity, our cultural mythology about artists ("All artists are broke, crazy, promiscuous, self-centered, single, or they have trust funds") that encourage us to leave our dreams unfulfilled. These myths most often involve matters of money, time, and other people's agendas for us. As we clear these blocks away, we can become more creative.

When you read these answers, does anything stand out to you?  Perhaps, something that you can relate to in your creative journey?  Perhaps, you still don’t believe that you are really creative?

Paul writes in the New Testament.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

-Ephesians 2:10

YOU are a masterpiece.  God created you with every attention to detail that a sculpture creates his art.  Have you ever considered how wonderful that is?
Today, take a few minutes to finish five statements about who you believe yourself to be.

1. I am __________.

2.  I believe I am capable of  _________.

3. I believe my creative dreams are __________.

4. Art allows me to ________________.

5. I’m still unsure of __________.

As always, if you want to share you statements with me, I’d love to hear them.  You can share a comment, a link, or e-mail palettetheory (at) gmail (dot) com. 

Hope you’re ready for a great week full of discovery and creativity.

-Liv