How to unlock your personal creativity in three easy steps!

Step 1: Do not despise small beginnings.

Oh yes I did. I just quoted scripture…

I can’t help it.

For starters, I was born and raised deep in the bible belt. I mean, it was the part of the highway we called the Christian’s fast track to Heaven… (I just made that up – nobody calls it that).

This highway is equivalent to the German Autoban.

Consequently, I grew up to 30 minute bible reading sessions at 5:30 am, followed by morning communion, sprinkled with scripture memorization with a pay rate of $0.10 per verse.

For kids with a dollar allowance a week and no other way to make money, $0.10 per verse could turn into a decent payout if you decided to man up and get to work.

As Aubrey (Pitch Perfect) would say “My father always said, ‘If you’re not here to win… get the hell outta Kuwait.'”

Needless to say, I committed a lot of scripture to memory.

Cha Ching!

Although I do have a few little issues with my parents over-zealous parenting methods, I cannot help the fact that the bible and all that comes with it, is deeply ingrained in my psyche.

I’m pretty sure my first words were “Glory!” or “Hallelujah!” or something along those lines.

However, I can say that the bible is chock full of some pretty wise sayings, and this one happens to be one of my favorites.

Because EVERYTHING starts small… and then it grows.

That is just the natural order of life, and this is true even for Creativity.

Step 1: Take Away

Creativity starts small, always – do not be afraid of that – don’t hate it.

This next part is for those of you that are on the fence about whether or not you are the ‘creative type’ (whatever that means) for the rest – just skip on down to step 2.

“Oh, but you don’t understand… I’m not really the creative type.”

You know what? I’m not really the ‘gym type’ but that doesn’t stop me from getting my ass up and into the gym at least four days a week (most times six).

AND if I’m honest with you, you should know I sucked at first, wheezing my way through short 10 minute work outs, then ever so slowly, building up my strength, endurance and flexibility.

When I decided to get serious about losing weight, I put myself on a three year timeline. No fad diets, or crash course, burn (out) boot camps… just small doable changes to my diet, and consistent exercise.

I have maintained my 135lb 5’8″ frame for over two decades now.  (and somewhere in all that I popped out three adorable kids)

So, I’m not trying to be rude but… get over yourself. Nobody is the “gym type”

Let me rephrase and be clear – NO ONE likes to go to the gym. They just do it because they like the results.

But we aren’t talking about the gym.

(Well, ok, I was, but really I’m talking about Creativity.)

Likewise, no one is the “creative type” or the “successful type” or the “patient parent type” (I really could go on forever but I will spare you) they just work at it, and do it because they like the results.

Creativity is an art (oh my gosh- I am so punny!) but it is also a discipline which leads me to my next step…

Step 2: Show up everyday.

READER: Every day? Is she freakin nuts?!

ME: Well… ok, yes I am. I’m like the crazy cat lady except I don’t live alone… that, and I don’t have any cats… but that’s not the point

The point is that creativity is like everything else in life. If you want it to grow, you have to give it a little time and attention everyday.

You have to make it a habit.

How Do I do this, oh Wise One?

ME: “Oh my goodness, you are so sweet…” blush, blush. “What can I say, I’m not really that wise but do go on…”

READER: No, I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to the little guru guy that’s hovering above your head.

WISE LITTLE GURU GUY HOVERING OVER MY HEAD: Listen, grasshopper, you do this by setting aside time every single day to ‘grow’ your creativity. It doesn’t have to be much time – at first (but this will grow, you will see).

Start with 2 minutes.

1. pick a spot, any spot will do… Don’t overthink it. You don’t need to remodel the house, or rent a $2,000 per month studio, and you certainly don’t need to hire a baby sitter. In fact, if you do have kids then they can climb on your back like little annoying monkeys (that’s what mine do) and tell you how you are doing everything wrong. Oh and also tell you your hair is gray and your butt jiggles. 
2. Pick a time – it can be a window of time like in the morning or early afternoon or right before bed. BUT be consistent. It’s best if you do the whole habit-piggy-back-hacking thing. This is where you take a habit you already do… like drinking coffee, brushing your teeth, going to the gym, eating breakfast, hugging your kids, doing the dishes, making your bed, starting laundry… etc. you get my point. Just make sure it’s a habit you do daily, then piggy back the new habit with that old one.
3. Set a Timer – this means… well, it’s kind of self explanatory but set a two minute timer and actually give your self 2 minutes to develop your creativity.

Pick a spot suggestions.

Before I get into this, let me start with what NOT to do.

Do NOT:

• sit on the couch in front of the TV – you will be tempted to turn the TV on and watch it.
•  lay down in the bed, you will probably fall asleep.
•  pick a spot that is impossible to get to, like your grandmother’s house in Wisconsin. Unless, of course, you live with your grandmother in Wisconsin. Otherwise you will never do it.

And please, oh please Do NOT give a pig a pancake… it gets crazy, the pig keeps asking you to do all sorts of things, you’ll get tired and exhausted, the day will get away from you and you will have gotten NOTHING done.

Real Pick a Spot suggestions.

1. Anywhere you won’t get distracted, and preferable a relatively clutter free space. If your desk is clean, go there. If your yoga mat is out, go there. If the kitchen table is clear, go there. If your husband is not in his favorite easy chair, go there if you dare. Or, if all else fails lock yourself in the bathroom. BUT (like I said earlier) – be consistent!

Step 3: WAIT!

Before we move onto step three, I just received a call from an avid listener asking for some clarity.

Q: What do I do during the two minutes?

ANSWER:

• meditate
• pray
• chant
• write affirmations
• doodle
• draw
• sketch
• write
• sit in silence (this is the best one)

Caller number 2, what is your question?

Q2: you don’t understand I have little kids, it’s impossible to get a quiet moment to myself. How the heck am I going to swing 2 minutes?

ANSWER: If you really want to mess with your kids just grab a chair, set it in the corner, and explain to your kids you have been very, VERY bad and that you need to be disciplined.

Hand them the timer, set it for 2 minutes and tell them to MAKE SURE that you do NOT. GET. UP. !!!

Your kids will think they have died and gone to heaven. They will be the envy of the neighborhood once they tell all the other kids that they had to put their mother in time out.

I beg you to try this and then please, oh please tell me in the comments below how they react.

Step 3: fo’ shizzle (I think that means for real but I can’t be sure…) WAIT!

READER: Oh no not again, just get on with step three already.

ME: No, not you wait. Just wait

That’s the step.

TO WAIT

Creativity is like a garden. It starts small and grows. If you can understand this by grasping the concept of “do not despise small beginnings” and understand that your creativity will start small but with time and attention it will grow, then you will have taken the first step to unlocking your personal creativity.

Each day that you show up for two minutes is the equivalent of watering your garden. It is just the type of daily care your creativity needs in order to grow. Two minutes will turn into five. Five will turn into ten. Ten will turn into twenty. And so on…

Growth happens naturally and organically.

This is when the real magic begins. This is when God, Life, the Universe, whatever you choose to call it, takes over and pretty soon you will have unlocked the most creative expression of you.

And this is the gift that I promise, keeps on giving.

Thank YOU!

Thank you for stopping by. And thank you for being you!

Please feel free to leave comments below.