The Wander Society

The Wander Society

(Originally posted on January 4, 2017)

I'm contemplating becoming a member.

 "Society wants us to live a planned existance, following paths that have been travelled by others. Tried and true. The known, the expected, the controlled, the safe."

These are the words of Keri Smith, author of an intriguing book entitled The Wander Society. Wandering does not have to be a place that you visit, it can be a state of mind. Allowing your thoughts to wander is a way to spur on your own creativity. 

Recently, I saw an "out of the box" idea on Face Book. Amazon has come up with a clever idea surrounding the many millions of boxes that are delivered during the Christmas season. Instead of throwing them out, why not fill them up with items you no longer need or want, and use a free shipping label to send them to Goodwill? I'm always impressed by ingenuity. 

I'm thinking that members of the Wander Society are probably comfortable doing things in a new and different way. They might find themselves asking "Why?" and "Why not?" more than most. A wanderer probably will embrace adventure and risk as opposed to the familiar.  I'm hoping to find myself wandering more in the next year. 

Creativity Suggestion 

Just Do It

I’m borrowing this expression, but there is a lot of truth in it. Thanks for reading along about creativity for the last thirty-one days. I’ve included thirty creativity suggestions, and I hope you were inspired to try at least one. What I’ve realized is that I am a creative person who craves creativity in my life. I hope that you have opened up to your inner critic. 

Next month I’ll be back to my M-W-F posting hoping still to encourage you on your own journey. Until then I hope you find grace daily in your life, and your interactions with those sent along your path. 

Ideas

Ideas

(Originally posted on July 28, 2016) 

I absolutely love ideas. 

I especially love it when an idea grows wings and takes flight. Oliver Wendell Holmes remarked, "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions."

I think sometimes we have a tendency to limit our ideas. Or if an idea does present itself we might not be paying close enough attention. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic, believes that if not embraced by its original owner an idea will move onto a more willing participant. 

I've learned to be more open to ideas. I am more observant of what I see, hear and read. If an idea comes to mind, I am quick to jot it down, so it can be revisited at a later date. I find that ideas are what sparks creativity. 

There is a journalistic term called "saving string."  It refers to saving all those bits and pieces that come along the way that can be used for that next great story. One of my favorite movies from the 80's was Working Girl starring Melanie Griffith. Her character would do just that. Always on the lookout for interesting ideas, she combined them to change the tragectory of her life. 

Ideas come from many places. Be on the look out and see what develops.

Creativity Suggestion 

Take a Break

Sometimes you need to take a break when it comes to creativity. Forcing creativity is rarely productive. If you are feeling stuck watch a movie, or bake some cookies. Take a walk near water, and be amazed at the inspiration that being near water brings. More than anything be observant, and open to what may come. Just forgetting the project at hand might be just what you need to be reinspired by something seemingly unrelated. Except isn’t everything somehow connected when it comes to being creative?

Novelty

Novelty

(Originally posted on May 10, 2016)

Novelty is the quality of being new, original or unusual. Psychologist, Elisha Goldstein teaches, "Novelty is one of the fastest routes to creating new neural connections." 

How can we bring more novelty into our lives? Especially if you are one who tends toward routine. But when you think of novelty as something that is actually good for you, it seems a win-win. 

I was reading yesterday about the lives of some famous artists, and a common thread between them seemed to be their thirst for novelty. What made them different from others of their day was that they were not content to settle for the status quo. For some, that meant that their work was not recognized during their lifetime. However, they would never had been content to be a carbon copy of someone else just to sell a painting. 

Look for novelty in your own life, and your brain will thank you. 

Creativity Suggestion 

Listening to Music

I can honestly say that music was an important part of my life up until about the 90’s. Now this actually makes me sad in admitting this, but when rap music hit my favorite stations I found myself tuning out.  I was always a huge lover of pop and folk music. I spent many dollars of my allowance, and many hours of time listening to my favorite artists growing up. 

Today on occasion I like to listen to songs from the 70’s. I think the fact that I know the words, and can sing along makes it more enjoyable for me. Perhaps that’s why I secretly begin listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. 

Instrumental music can be quite inspirational to creativity, and classical music has been tied to doing better on exams. One of my biggest regrets in life is never having learned how to play an instrument. It’s what was responsible for my daughter taking piano lessons during elementary school. I’m not sure she’s forgiven me yet. 

How is music a part of your life?

Yes

Yes
(Originally posted on May 2, 2016)

There is power in saying yes. Yes seems to get the ball rolling. It opens doors and possibilities. 

Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz believes, "Yes is the key that unlocks potential." 

One definition of potential according to Mirriam Webster is, "existing in possibility." I love that! What a wonderful way to view the world. 

Mraz also states that yes, "...really is the key to creativity and that creativity doesn't happen if you say no." Using a key as a visual fits beautifully with the idea of unlocking potential and possibilities. 

Sometimes committing to yes is difficult. It might force you out of your comfort zone.  It might open the door to ridicule or rejection if you fall short. It might be hard to fit it into your already busy schedule. Saying no might just be easier. But life really is one opportunity after another, and each of those opportunities allow us to learn more about our world and ourselves. 

Now when I'm talking about yes, I don't mean one more committment, one more batch of cookies, or one more committe post. I'm talking about something you've always wanted to do, for whatever reason you've always talked yourself out of it. 

Maybe today is the day to say yes. 

Creativity Suggestion 

Travel Journal 

I started a travel journal years ago when Chuck and I first got married. Now full with disclosure here I still have not recorded all the trips we have taken over the years into the actual journal. I find that somewhat tedious at times, and I am easily bored. That being said, my practice has been to record it usually on the complementary notepad provided by the hotel. As I think about a more creative way to do a travel journal, I can’t help but think making it a little bit more like a scrapbook might be better. Im thinking maybe including things like ticket stubs, or possibly a picture or two. Using colored inks or travel stickers found at Hobby Lobby could help jazz it up. Use your imagination and enjoy the process as you relive your adventures. 

Left Brain Right Brain

Left Brain, Right Brain

(Originally posted on April 27, 2016)

If you were to ask me which hemisphere of my brain was more dominant, I would probably tell you my left. I am very analytical, organized, and view my life as a series of time oriented events. However, on the flip side I am also very imaginative, and funny, and quick to look for resourceful ways to solve my problems. 

And this is where my dilemma arises. I have struggled to call myself a "creative." I am too conventional in my thoughts and appearance. I don't feel comfortable sticking out as different. Although I enjoy art, my lack of drawing ability has kept me from considering myself a true artist. 

How could someone like me who leans so strongly toward the left brain really be creative? And yet in my heart of hearts, I knew I was, and had been my entire life. 

Well apparently new research is dismissing the old myth that only strongly right brained individuals are truly creative. New studies are finding that creativity is a combination of both sides of the brain; a more whole brain approach.

 According to Deborah K. Heisz in Live Happy "In other words all of us have a creative network just waiting to be activated." 

This was validated just the other day when I took one of those Facebook quizzes about the brain. My results were 55% left brain, and 45% right brain. Of course, this is not a scientific study, but it did help answer my question as to how I could be primarily left brain, and still highly creative. 

If you've given up on yourself as being creative, you might want to reconsider, and look for your own personal route to creativity. 

Creativity Suggestion 

Try Something New

Recently I sampled a new flavor of Bluebell ice cream. Although I don’t regularly indulge I couldn’t resist trying Pumpkin Spice Pecan, and I can honestly tell you it didn’t disappoint. On a healthier note, along with chocolate hummus, pumpkin hummus with apples is a new favorite. Living a creative life involves being open to new things. If you haven’t tasted anything new lately branch out and give it a try. A good place to start might be at Panera Bread where they now offer a Mediterranean Grain Bowl with chicken. Yummy!

Limiting Beliefs

Limiting Beliefs

(Originally posted on February 25, 2016)

Are you guilty of this? 

"They put limitations on themselves before they even start to consider the many options available to them." 

Doreen Marcial Poreba brings to light the fact that often times we've already made up our mind before we even begin. We refuse to fully examine all the possible options available to us. 

This goes along with the idea of false choices. Many times we narrow things down to one or two possibilities. The reality is that generally if you allow yourself you can come up with other possible options. 

Holding onto our limiting beliefs keeps our thinking small. It plays into the idea of scarcity, where there just isn't enough to go around. 

In my quest to include more creativity in my life, I don't want to automatically limit myself by limiting my options. Allowing yourself to think outside the box may be just the thing you need to expand your beliefs about what is possible in your life. 

Creativity Suggestion 

Zentangles

If you are wanting to try something new I’ve included step-by-step instructions for zentangles.

https://m.wikihow.com/Make-a-Zentangle

The Journey

The Journey

(Originally posted on February 23, 2016)

You have probably heard the words, "It's the journey, not the destination that is important "

I think perhaps it really is both, however, sometimes we are in such a rush to get to the destination that we overlook the journey.  Our society is very results oriented. If there is no score or bottom-line then people assume there is little value. 

However, when it comes to creativity, the journey is the hidden pot of gold. You see most of us will never make our living through our creative pursuits. Most of us will not be recognized by the world for our creative accomplishments. But the value of expressing ourselves through creativity is what sweetens the journey. 

There is something about being involved in an activity that when you look up you wonder where the time went. This is called flow, and it is that rare experience where time seems to stand still. You are so involved in the moment that you lose track of time. It is a sweet feeling, and the satisfaction it brings is great. 

Look for small ways to express yourself creatively.  I know for me, I find great pleasure in writing. I do not consider it a chore, and look forward to the time I can devote to this pursuit. There is certainly nothing wrong with the destination, but enjoy the journey more. 

Creativity Suggestion 

Collections

In today’s minimalistic world collections do not seem to hold the appeal they once did. I have been a collector most of my life, and only at the age I am now have slowed down in this pursuit. Collections can be like treasure hunts as you find things along the way that are just perfect to add to your accumulation. Perhaps my most fun collection has been the thimbles I have collected over the last thirty-four years from many of the places I have visited. Because of their tiny size they fit perfectly in a printers tray which takes up very little room in my house. Each time I gaze at it I am brought back to a different time in my life. I suppose this is really a collection of memories more than anything. What do you collect?