When was the last time you stopped to think about your own creativity?

How would you describe your own creative journey and to what extent do you allow yourself the opportunity to explore more, to bring more richness into your life?

I wonder when you consider it was the most creative moment of your life.

Was it when you played as a child or when you discovered the pleasure of experimenting with colors, shapes, papier-mâché or clay?

Now, as an adult, to what extent do you allow yourself time and space to experiment with new ideas and activities, with a busy career, family responsibilities and all the addictions of modern technology?

Maybe it still wants to emerge?

Often, it is not until a life event makes us stop in our tracks and, out of necessity, discover alternative approaches and possibilities. The saying "Necessity is the mother of all inventions" is very true. Look at how many people discovered new ways of working during the recent pandemic.

Last year was one of great change for me, I lost my life partner, my source of strength, companionship and love. I am still finding my new path, accepting the whirlwind of emotions that sweep over me and discovering new activities that provide me with comfort and new ways to move forward.

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, describes creativity as:

"The natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy".

He continues: "We ourselves are creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves."

"Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift to God."

It is a beautiful thought, "how can I best use the gifts I have been given?".

However, it is not enough to think that I want to be more creative. I'm discovering that I need to warm up, like an athlete before a competition or a musician before a recital. It means incorporating different activities into my day-to-day, allowing inspiration to enter, and giving myself permission to be a novice and accept less than perfect as I stumble and become familiar with the unknown.

It is also very important to find the best creative corner: where do I feel at ease, with natural light, a particular view and that I can call my own?

Developing a reflective practice is one of the stepping stones on the path to becoming more creative and releasing new energy into our lives. Julia Cameron asks her readers to do this on a daily basis.

Some prefer to simply stop and meditate, others to draw, write poetry, listen to music, and others to converse and dialogue with a partner, friend or colleague.

For those of us working in helping and caring professions such as coaching, mentoring and supervision, it is essential that we take the time to reflect on how best to help our clients and ensure that we are also personally in a "good condition" to do our work.

We have an ethical duty to do so.

How much more enjoyable it is when, in addition to sharing with the person we trust (our supervisor), we are given the space to experiment with creative activities such as: - walking in nature, constellating our situation using objects we find nearby, drawing pictures or resorting to metaphor, to name a few.

These activities help us to uncover hidden filters, assumptions, perhaps even uncover latent emotions. We gain clarity, discover new perspectives and better understand the bigger picture. These discoveries also affect us on a deeper level. There is no turning back; the path is clear....

In my own journey, I am supported by my own supervisors and have recently embarked on a new adventure called "A Living Tapestry", where I have had to answer the questions I asked myself at the beginning and am making exciting discoveries....

Louise Schubert.

References:

  • Cameron, J (1994) The Artist's Way - A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self. London, Souvenir Press
  • PattersonPrenticeDesigns: Cultivating and Choreographing the Rich Tapestry of Whole Hearted Creativity - Diploma Programme