Way back to a time pre-kids, I was a person who was far from creative. In fact, I didn’t have a creative bone in my body, or so I thought.
I did wonder what having a creative side would feel like, to be interested in something creative and have an outlet that’d allow me to escape the stressors of work. But back then, I expected creativity to just come to me without even trying. It never did come, until I changed my approach.
You see, I learnt that I am creative, I just hadn’t been in a situation to discover it. I also realised that to discover creativity you need to think outside the square and about what it means to be creative because there are so many ways, it’s not all just about art.
How I discovered my inner creative
Funnily enough, it was boredom during maternity leave in 2012 that lead me to find my creative streak. Boredom and, more importantly, a break from bottom-line business-thinking. It was the first time I had a break away from work and study in 11 and half years, my mind was all of a sudden not running at 100 miles an hour each and every day; it had been rested for 6 months.
This break gave my mind a huge refresh and I was able to focus on the things I really wanted to do. It’s the point at which I started my blog and where my writing career started. You’d never know I flunked English in high school, would you? Now, writing is my creative outlet. I never in a million years thought I’d find something I love AND get paid for it.
But that’s not the only creative part of me that I have discovered. It was leading up to having my second child, again, an opportunity to have a clearer mind and less stress, I took up crocheting. Not only was it a creative discovery, I discovered a creative activity that also had the benefit of being extremely therapeutic and a great stress reliever.
You have to give it a go
I always thought that creativity was something that just happened, you either have it or you don’t. What I have learnt is that you’ve got to take the step and give things a go because you won’t know if you don’t try. I gave writing a shot and loved it so much. I’ve kept on writing and have pursued many opportunities with the acceptance that I might fail and that I might not.
Why attempt being creative?
There are so many benefits of trying to tap into your creative side. For me, I love the fact that it allows me to produce something completely unique. I find it a huge part of my identity and a way to express myself. It’s also a way to think differently, think outside the square in a way you wouldn’t usually think and gain different perspectives.
A painting, sewing or pottery class, writing a blog, playing an instrument – take the plunge. It’s not until you give things a try that you’ll really be able to discover your creative side. And if you don’t like something, that’s OK, it’s part of the process, move on and try something else.
Have you discovered your creative side yet? What do you love to do?
