How to cultivate creativity
You may not deem yourself as a creative person, but creativity is embedded in each and every one of us. For many people, creativity doesn’t come as naturally as it would for say, an obviously creative person like an artist or poet. Many of us find it difficult to tap into our creativity and can end up dismissing those who we consider to be more free-spirited or imaginative. The imagination, however, is the key to unlocking our unlimited creative potential.
We can develop our personal and professional capabilities through creativity and imagination. Rigid structures in school meant that we weren’t taught how to increase our imagination from a young age. The creative realm can now feel intimidating and inaccessible, and so we need help in carving out space for vulnerability and balancing the practical and creative self. But never fear, there are ways to expand your imagination and creative capacity.
Creativity is fundamental to our happiness which is why it’s so important to find a creative outlet that you enjoy and not be afraid to try new things. We recognise the significance of creativity and place it in our circle of life, also known as the Ora Circle. That said, we also understand how tricky it can be to cultivate creativity. Below we have created a list of resources that revolve around imagining, creating, playing, sharing and reflecting. We hope that you can try one or many of these activities as a way of helping you become that bit more creative and unlock your potential. Start implementing creative activities and thoughts into your routine straight away.
Remember, you need to make time for yourself in order to function at your best. When you experience new places and try new things, it forces you to listen, notice and connect. This gets the creative juices flowing.
Meditation
Breathwork and meditation helps to provide clarity and create more space for creative thoughts. You can practice it for as little or as long as you like, from 3 minutes to 20 minutes or longer. Johanna Melchiorre has a wonderful online session on initiating mindfulness while the Medito app provides daily meditations for free (with the option to donate if financially feasible).
Dance and shout
When you engage the mind and body, you become in sync with yourself. It sparks new thoughts, ideas and dreams. Look to tai chi, yoga or a dance class. You can even jump around the room like no-one is watching and we highly recommend screaming at the top of your lungs! Using your body through movement and voice enables you to let go of stagnant energy that’s holding you back. Elina Pavlidis has various relaxing techniques in the Ora library or for a heart racing dance workout, check out Steezy.
Get hands-on
Design, create or build something! Anything that uses your hands, focuses your conscious mind, and allows your unconscious mind to wander freely. It could be writing, colouring in, painting, pottery, crochet, sewing - the list goes on! As you touch and hold craft materials, you start to notice smells, sounds, textures and how something looks. New ideas emerge. Perhaps this is why many authors and poets prefer to write longhand. Try adult colouring pages or why not give ‘art-journaling’ a go, you’ll find lots of tips on how to start here.
Play time
Play is highly conducive to creativity. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung noted that just like children, adults need to play. When you’re playing and having fun, you’re engaging the creative side of the brain and becoming spontaneous. Anything can happen in these moments. Instead of a competitive activity, choose something active but not stressful. You might end up digging a hole, trying to skateboard or building LEGO. As you try new things, you’ll spur your imagination, activate your senses and re-establish the mind-body connection. And yes, LEGO for adults does exist.
Back to nature
Gardening and foraging are great ways of expressing your creativity. A garden can be your potted plants, community garden, home-grown herbs or a simple patch of dirt. In the book, "Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening”, Fran Sorin wrote, "Play with dirt. Play with ideas. Play with new projects. Play with possibilities - every single day of your life." Need we say anymore?
Considered the “Best Garden Blog ” by the New York Times, A Way to Garden has free online resources and a podcast to educate you on all things gardening. For anyone based in Denmark, check out Vild Mad for the ultimate foraging guide.
Up your kitchen game
Cooking or baking is not only creative, it’s a form of mindfulness that can contribute to improvements in mood and overall wellbeing. Make kombucha, preserves or vinegars, or why not try a new recipe that you haven’t made before, experimenting with new flavours and ingredients. It’s a multi-sensory experience that expands the mind. For inspiration, see our favourite cookbooks or if you’re a member, Alessandra Mariotti has healthy sweet and savoury recipes available in the Ora library.
Connect with others
Surround yourself with others and become creative together. When you connect with people and collaborate, you learn from one another, you become inspired and you inspire. Apps such as Clubhouse bring together members with similar interests, allowing them to learn new things in an area they’re interested in, while Demi Community inspires and connects foodies around the world.
Learn something
Being creative doesn’t have to involve arts and crafts. You can learn a new language, play a musical instrument or discover photography. Have fun with whatever you choose. There are so many online resources to learn a new hobby. It’s great for when you have moments of boredom and you may even get a new perspective on something. Check out MasterClass for plenty of ideas.