Eat, Sleep, Dream, Create: Creativity Is Essential To A Good Life
Since the first caveman etched a mammoth on the wall of his cave, humans have been creating art to express the experience of living. All over the earth every culture tells stories, paints and draws, sings songs and creates dance. Art in its many varieties is as part of the human genetic code. It is deep within us, a creative impulse that yearns to be expressed. There are those that contend that the creative urge is biologically linked to our need to reproduce, that our existence requires us having creative impulses. It is in the creative impulse that we want to shape and nurture our young, and bring something beautiful into the world. Intricately meshed with our biological drives, the need to create is as certain as the need to eat, breath, sleep and dream. Everyone on the planet has the desire to create, in one form or another. For some, the darkest challenges of life have turned this need into the desire to create chaos or harm to others. Still it is a creative urge that demands the world notice they exist. Creativity is a powerful force and should be respected. Creativity belongsto everyone. Art Supplies, like paints, colored pencils, clay, Foam Board, and crayons, are often a major aspect of a child’s life. We all respect the creative need in a child. A child readily spends energy building things, drawing, singing, or telling and listening to stories. How come, as we grow older, we treat our creative urges like clothes that we grow beyond?
Many grownups consider art as a spectator sport or a hidden hobby. After a long day at work, doing the laundry and getting the kids to bed there isn’t time to indulge in any creative impulse. Sadly many adults think they can only enjoy art and creativity as consumers. So how is it possible to indulge the creative instinct in a world with out time or compensation for the artistic endeavor?
A satisfying creative experience needs several things which involve the senses in the process, a vision of the thing to be created and focused attention. Ask an artist about being fully involved in a project and they can easily talk about the benefits and the joy that comes from the event. A painter lost in the colors and the subject, seeing intensely, a singer lost in the power of the music, the dancer feeling an enlightened grace descend around him, are all experiences that come from surrender to the creative instinct.
If someone has a creative desire they should pursue, be it writing, singing, painting or dance. The rewards are intense. For those that are not sure of their passion, it is important to find all the opportunities for expressing creativity in everyday life. For example, if making dinner, what happens when the chef puts all of their attention into the process? Bring the senses alive, taste, smell, and touch the food. Cut the carrot with perfect focus. Arrange the salad with attention to the texture and color of the tomatoes, olives and carrots. Make it beautiful and make it special.
The benefit for the effort come from the experience of taking pleasure in putting something special together. It is always nice to receive complements and appreciation, but the experience of creating is often reward enough.
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