Creativity, Imagination, and having Fun
Watching how we get better when we follow our ambitions and have fun with what we choose to do.
I have talked before about “the chaos and noise of the world.” It is phrase that I have used to just toss at everything happening all at once and how we get distracted and caught up in the noise. We get caught up in the accolades, the achievements, the titles, all the things that are given outwardly praise and celebration. However, in that seeking for external accolades and distractions and noise from the outside world, we lose our creativity. And creativity and curiosity and playfulness are at the center of being human. It is at the center of who we each are uniquely in life.
However, as we grow up and more and more focus is on academics, or sports, or school, or things that are tied to those external achievements we shift our focus away from being creative. We shift away from the curiosity and the imagination. I have experienced this all too well, I remember in High School being asked to write a creative short story, something I was really excited to do, but upon receiving feedback from my peers I felt defeated. My whimsical fantasy world that I created, full of imaginative and creativity was left with negative feedback and I shrunk as a writer. I remember that day, I learned quickly to limit my creativity and curiosity and my imagination. I became more grounded in my writing and my explorations of creative writing.
All the suppress imagination and creativity did was hurt myself. It made me second guess and question my ability as a creative writer and a writer in general. It was a tough thing to experience as a kid, high schoolers are still kids. However, lately I have found new ways to be creative and imaginative again and as a result I feel lighter and more curious in other aspects of my life.
I may have talked about this before, but art has become a huge creative outlet for me. It has allowed me to learn something new and be creative and playful again in life. In art, like in life and in writing, there are no rules except the ones that you put on yourself. I have found myself drawing sunsets and sunrises, and picturesque nature scenes. I have found myself wrapped up in imagining life in those worlds that I draw on paper. This whole experience has allowed me to find imagination and fun in other aspects of my life. Rather than looking at a commute to work as something to do, I take in the nature and life around me as I bike around.
In the simplest and easiest ways I have injected joy back into my life. However, it goes beyond that. The imagination, playfulness, curiosity, and creativity that I have found again through art and it’s impact on my life has lead me to being curious to learning again. And in learning again we learn about life. Through this process of beginning as a beginner again through art, I have found myself seeking ways to be better, how to weave colors together in unique and interesting ways. How to explore certain things in see in nature and trying to replicate them on paper.
This curiosity and wonder has reminded me that when we get good at something, whether a sport or in school or a skill or anything else, we actually get good at it when we are having fun and being creative and imaginative. The creativity and imagination to explore a concept or an idea deeper, to be pulled in and want to study or our yearning for more even when we aren’t actively doing it is how we get better. We don’t get better by having our parents or our coaches or our friends force us to do it again and again and again. If we do that, we become detached from the process. We become detached from the task and we don’t get better.
All that is to say, be curious and imaginative and creative in this life. Look at the beauty around us and follow those ideas or interests that make us happy and giddy. Do things not for achievements or accolades but because they are expressions of us that the world needs us to share.
At the end of the day we are all children of God, and children shine best when we are being creative, and curious, and playful with the things we are interacting with. So go do that. Watch how the curiosity and creativity and playfulness weaves into our life and we start to see progress in how much we have and can get better at something.
We back again. Podcast is still running strong. Had a great conversation this week with my friend Amanda Odgers where we sat down and discussed the importance of uniting our mind, body, and spirit in what we do in creating wellness in our life. Amanda is a wellness coach and retreat host and encourages others to challenge themselves and to be present with your heart in what you do.
Check out the YouTube video or head over to Spotify.
As always, appreciate your continued support and love. If you are enjoying what I am building and writing on over here, feel free to share with a friend and spread the love!
With Love,
-Z