Cultivating Creativity

Cultivating Creativity

(Originally posted on September 4, 2018)

The word cultivate originally referred to agriculture. A farmer would prepare his soil before planting. However, it actually can apply to anything that requires "nurturing to help it grow." 

Creativity is such a thing. Left alone it might wither and die, but through nurturing it can flourish. Carrie Bloomston, author of The Little Spark, believes that, "Creativity isn't something you do; it is who you are." Her book offers plenty of inspiration to be that creative person. 

Making room for creativity in your life, allowing for inspiration, and just noticing the world around you helps to cultivate that creative person within. One fun idea she writes about is keeping a jar of markers handy just in case inspiration strikes. 

"Creativity can strike at any moment and you want to be ready for it when it does."

I find it's easy to get caught up in my daily routine, moving on quickly to the next thing I lose sight of what really is important. In order for me to grow I must cultivate creativity at each turn. Listening to music, trying new cuisine, exploring the shelves in a book store, noticing the design patterns in a piece of fabric are all ways to make me more aware of my surroundings. 

Instead of worrying about what I can do to be creative I'd rather focus my energies on absorbing the creativity right before my very eyes, and being "...open to possibility, opportunity, and the moment."

"Not all who wander are lost."

J.R.R. Tolkien

Creativity Suggestion 

Attend an Event

Recently Chuck and I attended the Monet exhibit at the Kimbell Art Museum. We really enjoyed getting to step back in time to view the artists work during the latter years of his life. Anytime I make an effort to surround myself with any type of art I always leave feeling refreshed in my soul. Look around your community to take advantage of festivals, art exhibits, food tastings, music gigs, and theater productions just to name a few. You can even visit a place like Frisco’s Hall Park to enjoy an outdoor sculpture garden at no cost to you. Sit on one of the benches, soak in the sun, listen to the birds, and feel the breeze, and take in the beautiful art work before you. 

Question Everything

Question Everything

(Originally posted on September 11, 2018)

One of the best years of my teaching career was the year my teaching partner and I began questioning why we did the things we did. We had taught many years together, and to the outside world probably looked like we had teaching kindergarten down pat. 

That year we challenged ourselves to question why we did what we did, and to change our teaching techniques where necessary to improve our classroom. It was such an awesome, exciting year as we began to do things differently. 

Recently I was watching a You Tube video of a young woman recommending exactly the same thing. Now of course don't take the "everything" part too literally, but still embrace the idea of questioning what you believe and why?

Another idea that falls in line with this is something employed by Toyota called The Five Whys.  This entails asking the question, "Why not?" and following it through with four more whys in response to each answer. 

Author Tanner Christensen of The Creativity Challenge states, 

"By taking this approach...you can implore your imagination to explore possibilities you may not have imagined before."

Sometimes it's just easier to do things the way you always have whether they are the best way or not. Sometimes we do things because that's all we know, and we've never taken the time to look for alternatives. 

I find life to be more interesting when you begin to question why, and continue to search for new and different ways to do things. 

Creativity Suggestion

Digital Memoir

Did you know that you can start your own blog on Blogger for free? Not only do I have this blog, Grace Found Daily where I share my perspective give of the world, I also have a memoir blog. 

This is where I write about events of my life in a blogging format along with pictures to represent each event. It has been a fun way to record my life. To be honest, it has been a while since I have worked on it, and I’m ready to get back to adding to it. 

If you are unsure how to get started just google how to start a blog on Blogger. From there enjoy creating your own memoir to share with your family. 

Brainstorming

Brainstorming

(Originally posted on July 19, 2018)

Brainstorming was a technique I used often in my classroom. It is a way to generate an abundance of ideas quickly. While brainstorming, the rule is to not pass judgement at the time. Even wild ideas are allowed. 

As I was reading Designing Your Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, I couldn't help, but remember a brainstorming episode that took place during a faculty meeting many years ago.  Our principal was eliciting ideas for ways we could improve learning at our school. Although, I can't remember the ideas of the other teachers, I do remember both my idea, and hers. 

At the time I remember thinking that my principle's idea was too unrealistic, and mine extremely practical. At the time I took great pleasure in thinking that I had the better idea. Today I'm thinking differently. 

My idea had been done before, and my principal's was almost crazy, except it wasn't. What she was doing was pushing us out of our comfort zones, out of the familiar and known. If you keep doing things the same way chances are you are going to end up with the same results. 

Her training in gifted education gave her the edge when it came to brainstorming. I just wasn't far enough in my teaching career to know any different. As I think about it today, I wish we had followed through on her idea. I think it would have led to a more engaged group of students which is half the battle when it comes to learning. 

When faced with a problem, don't rule out an idea that might sound a little "crazy" at first. It might actually be a catalyst to the solution you are seeking. 

Creativity Suggestion

Accessories 

I’ve never considered myself a fashionista. My style is pretty classic, and I rarely follow the trends. Several years ago, though, I had an aha moment about fashion. It had to do with accessories. I had never quite understood the whole idea of accessories since my fashion sense is pretty plain. What I discovered, though, was just like furniture, my pants and shirt were kind of like a couch and a chair. Both were screaming for a throw pillow or two. Along with the pillows were the knick-knacks on the coffee table, a picture above the fireplace, and maybe curtains on the windows. The accessories were what made the room. That year I had fun playing around with cardigans, scarfs, earrings, and necklaces. My whole attitude changed that year, and for the first time I saw the creative possibilities of fashion. 

Downloading a Different Browser

Downloading a Different Browser

(Originally posted on May 30, 2018)

Adam Grant, author of Originals, writes about a group of customer service employees all working for the same company. Their employment status was followed over a period of time trying to determine who was most successful and fulfilled in their job. 

As it turned out their success had to do with the internet browser they used. You see most people just stuck with the default browser that was already programmed into their computer. They never once questioned changing it. They basically just went along with what they had been given. 

On the other hand, a small percentage changed their browser. In doing so they showed initiative, and a level of resourcefulness that the others had not. These people by taking control over one small aspect of their job went on to find more satisfaction than their co-workers. 

Grant states, " We live in an Internet Explorer world." " ...many of us accept the defaults in our own lives." 

The less freedom and control that we are allowed in our job can set the tone for a disconnect, and a lack of initiative.

Add to this the tendency toward false choices, and we can limit our options down to only two. You know one or the other.

  My natural inclination, my default, is not to think outside the box very often. I am guilty of thinking only in one way. However, the paradox here is that in many ways I do consider myself a creative person. It's just that as I've written before the status quo keeps calling my name. 

It's not my default to look at things in a different way.  However, I'm thinking that it may be time to check my browser. 

"The hallmark of originality is rejecting the default and exploring whether better options exists."

Adam Grant

Creativity Suggestion 

Seasonal Decorating

One of the first things I embraced when I retired from teaching was seasonal decorating. That first fall rather than planning lessons, I found myself decorating my home. Where once Christmas was the only time to decorate now the entire autumn season is ripe with pumpkins. Today I don’t do as much since I don’t have as many flat surfaces in my home, but I still enjoy checking out others creative decors. Again Pinterest is the go to when it comes to ideas. Let your inner designer shine this season. 

Possible

Possible

(Originally posted on March 23, 2018)

A quote by author Matthew Kelly caught my eye the other day. 

"We gravitate toward what is manageable, rather than imagining what is possible." 

I'm a really good manager. The move we made two years ago is a perfect example of my logistical skills, and actually that really isn't such a bad thing. However, I think settling for good management, and losing sight of the possibilities makes for a life half-lived. 

As you go through your day today try to imagine a possibility or two that would make your life richer. 

Creativity Suggestion

Coffee Shop- 

I recently discovered a coffee shop that offers amazing coffee.  It is originally out of Austin, but has a Frisco and Keller location as well. Summer Moon Coffee boasts of a wood fired coffee with its to die for Moonmilk cream. Coffee shops are great places to meet a friend to share your next creativity project. They are places to read and write in an environment away from home with all its distractions. You could work on your bullet journal here as you sketch out your next month layout. Summer Moon is worth the trip.

http://woodfiredcoffee.com

Resistance

Resistance

(Originally posted on March 16, 2018)

"Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance."

Steven Pressfield

I came across this quote the other day while reading a posting from a fellow blogger. She has been writing and posting a novel over the last several months that is extremely good.  She began writing in November when she took on the challenge of writing a novel in thirty days, and it has evolved into a creative undertaking that she is now wanting to publish 

The quote above is from Steven Pressfield's The War of Art. After reading these words I felt they described kind of where I am right now. I've got so many ideas and plans, and yet I can't seem to make a move. I've been perplexed as to why I've been so unmotivated, and have tried to blame it on the weather, however I think that is just an excuse. 

What I love about having creative friends is the inspiration they bring. My blogging friend is hard at work editing and revising her mystery story getting it ready for publication. I can't help but cheer her on, and feel motivated to push beyond the Resistance myself. 

http://backontheflooragain.blogspot.com/p/rubato.html

Creativity Suggestion

Bullet Journal-

If you are curious about Bullet Journals they are all the rage on the internet. Search on You Tube and Pinterest, and you will find all sorts of ideas. I don’t use my bullet journal as a planner, but rather as a way to record my year. I recently purchased a dotted grid journal and I LOVE it. I’ve always been intimidated by the blank page, and the dots give me just enough structure to make it enjoyable. I’m including favorite quotes, books I’ve read, tracking my walks, and a list of my blog posts just to name a few. Maybe Bullet Journaling is just what you need to kick your creativity back in gear. 

Original

Original

(Originally posted on July 12, 2017)

There is a burden to being original. Especially, because if the truth be known nothing really is totally original. Author Austin Kleon in his book, Steal Like an Artist, reminds us that, 

" If we're free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing, and we can embrace influence instead of running away from it."

I've found without influence I struggle to come up with ANY ideas let alone original ideas. Of course, my influences can come from many different directions. Being open and aware of them is what really counts. 

Instead of using originality as an excuse not to be creative, let it become a liberating force. Look for things that seem to grab your attention and go from there. This could include new culinary delights, fashion trends, redecorating a room, writing in a journal or any array of creative endeavors you might fancy to undertake. 

Knowing that you don't have to start at square one makes starting so much easier. I find pinning ideas and inspirations on Pinterest a way to not take up too much room in what can be an already too cluttered world. For me having a continual stream of books in my life also seems to keep my own creative juices flowing. 

What I do know is that when I'm spending time ruminating over a possible idea life just seems a little more interesting. If you are concerned that others might judge you as unoriginal consider the words of the French writer Andre Gide, 

"Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again."

Creativity Suggestion 

Upcycle- 

Part of being creative is being resourceful. Rather than purchase something you need, look around your home to see if you already have something that could be used instead. A glass jar can be used to store dried beans, a terra cotta flower pot can hold plasticware at a party, and a candy tin can hold paper clips. This mindset is more of a necessity when you live in a rural community without all the city conveniences. However, the upside to that is that it allows you more opportunities to be creative.