Curious and Creative

Two things have been at the forefront of my thoughts lately:

→creativity & curiosity←

And I feel like they go hand in hand.

I've been thinking about how important it is to stay curious in all sorts of scenarios.

For one thing, I imagine life- with this consciousness we carry- would be really boring and miserable without some form of curiosity.

Curiosity is like the action of the wrist twisting the doorknob to lead you outside of a dark room.

If you follow it, you need never be stuck for long.

And after hearing the illustrious  Brené Brown say so, I knew it was true- that curiosity is one of the most effective tools you can have as a leader.

Being curious

- instead of reactive and defensive- 

allows for this safety,  

that we don't always have, 

within a potentially uncomfortable conversation.

That sense of safety then has this potential to lead to clearer communication, greater kindness, and more effective problem-solving.

And that's just with two scenarios, my friends 😉.

Then there's creativity. 

To be creative, you have to have imagination; 

and you have to be curious.

You have to be able- and willing- to think up, or consider, something that doesn't already exist.

And it allows you to give possibility to what may seem impossible.

And the expansiveness it creates within us is, I dare say, down right therapeutic!

As humans, this has got to be- 

really and truly-

one of our innate super powers.

Look at all the stuff we've created that didn't exist before!

In childhood, our imagination is a part of us that we barely have to think about.

But as we grow to have more and more responsibilities, 

and especially as we have to start "adulting,"

it is my belief that this creativity- this imagination- can get drowned in all the "have-tos" and "should-dos" we are met with.

It is easy to begin to believe that the imagination we once had, needs to be left behind- 

or at least put on the back burner 'til all the "important stuff" is done.

In fact, this is a belief I unknowingly held onto into my 30s.

Only in the recent years have I come to value the importance of letting my imagination and creativity flow.

And in doing so, I can't help but think that, as adults, we are not only still allowed to prioritize our creativity and imagination;

but that it is also imperative.

Without creativity and imagination, we live a half-life; 

we live in a sort of dragged out misery.

And don't trick yourself into thinking that these parts of us only apply to the artist or the writer or the dancer or the crafty person.

They show up in everything if we allow them:

problem-solving, gardening, business planning, marketing, conversation, meditation, driving, goal setting, cooking, exercising, etc., etc....

Creativity and imagination are an innate part of us, 

and I really do think we can stand to benefit from valuing them 

and prioritizing them 

more than we do.

If you think you'd like to try, but you don't know where to start, let me give you a tip that worked for me.

Make a list of 20 things you like to do.

It doesn't matter how long it has been since you've done these things.

Pick at least one thing from that list and dedicate a set time to do it.

What you are doing is scheduling a date with yourself to let your inner child out to play.

Here, you are satisfying both your logical inner adult- by scheduling it- and your creative imagination- by letting it play.

And, if you're like me, the results may just change your life.

💛