These eggs gave up their lives for their love of creativity
How can I create today? This is a question people should ask themselves each day. Yet, most of us look at the day or week ahead and think, wow, there is so much to do, or, oh crap! I’m really not looking forward to fill-in-the-blank.
Did you ever think how much more creativity you could allow into your life if you actually planned the time and looked forward to it? The common fallacy is that creativity just happens and you take it as it comes, but that is not entirely true.
Why? Creativity doesn’t happen by accident. Aside from what Oprah will have you believe about her whimsical “ah-ha” moments, creativity and inspiration are free flowing, and need time and space to evolve. The true “ah-ha” moments show up because you were present in the moment, ready to actually hear, see, believe or understand what showed up. You made the space.
Just Do It! Creativity Will Show Up
Creative juices flow more freely when you offer up the time and space. Only you know what turns you on, what drives you to get out of bed each morning. So if the windshield looks a little foggy and you can’t quite find your creative zone, don’t judge yourself. Just get started doing something, and you will realize it helps you not only feel better, but takes focus off the voices in your head that find very creative ways to say no.
Creative expression can be anything from getting your hands dirty with a pottery project, to a full out brainstorm about what gets you jazzed in your business or career. The “how” can involve doing something meaningful to you that enables you to break out from the norm, and use different muscles or right brain power. That could include doing something more tactile like knitting, wood working or playing guitar to open things up, or going for a really slow walk where you relish each step and think of it as a mini scavenger hunt.
Yes, You DO Have Time
When taking about creativity, this is inevitably the comment I hear next…I just don’t have time. Well, you do, if you really want it.
Creative moments are priceless, and they really can be just mere moments. Just plan for those moments consistently. So if 15 minutes is all you have, USE it. Step away from digital equipment and break out the paints, yarn, books, journal, business plan, short story draft, photo album — whatever.
And the most important part — don’t be afraid if there are a few “broken eggs”. By that I mean false starts, unfinished projects or crazy-ass things that will never see the light of day. Its something we all struggle with when we are tapping into our creative reserves as adults. Who cares! Leave judgment at the door, even better, flush it down the toilet.
The important part is that you are taking the time and space to be creative. That will shift so many things in other parts of your life, including your perspective on creativity and how it transforms your life. Then, next steps and choices for your business or career will be clearer with all the brain clutter out of the way.
The Education Paradox – Just Do Something, Damnit
The economy is in shreds, yet the cost of an Education hasn’t diminished – it’s substantially increased. Normally, this would have a reduction effect on the bell-curve of the level of education for a society; that is, bad economies breed more dumb hicks as fewer and fewer people can afford to have access to higher education. Instead, super-thrifty Gen-Y is now starting the Education Revolution – everybody and their friggin’ granny is going to Grad School these days.
The value of an education, that piece of paper you get at the end of two or more years of late night Monster-powered study marathons, used to be that you had better odds of getting a job. That you had more “tangible” experience to connect to an employer’s needs. Well, that sure ain’t true anymore, now is it?
If everyone has a masters degree, then we’re all still sitting at the middle of the bell curve, ain’t we? Pull out your banjos boys and girls, we’ve hit the point in our lives where no matter how much education you have, you’re still a dumb hick. The real value of an education has substantially diminished; yet we’re paying outrageous, skyrocketing prices for the privileged of a piece of paper that says we can toil away for extended periods.
There are only three ways to differentiate yourself from other dumb hicks:
You will surely fail if you look at your education as a buffer to the bad economy, as a way to say to employers that you are willing to work hard, or as a way to allay boredom.
Instead, you -must- take full advantage of all four years of undergrad, squeeze the life out of every organization, event, networking possibility – start blogging, make a name for yourself, host your own events, organize massive conferences on your own or with your friends, get known for something like starting up a community-centric marketplace or an energy-saving initiative.
Just do something, damnit!
My friend had a lot more than two choices; but first she has to realize just how awesome she is. Until then, she’ll feel stuck.
I am a dumb hick – the first to admit it; in fact, it makes for great party conversations. As true as that may be, I’ve managed to start my own business, become profitable in 3 months time, pay off all but one of two of my major debts in 6 months, and help organize two of the largest “unconferences” in a city that six months ago, had never heard of one. Not just that, but I’ve also become a public speaker, started up a group that teaches social media to the public for charity, and have started to write my own book.
Oh, and I’m going back for my MBA this summer.