Healing Power of Creativity

If you would ask my honest opinion of what makes being human awesome, it is our power of creativity. The ingenuity and the drive to create something with our hands from our minds or just create something beautiful. That desire is something special and should be nurtured, not forced. Many times we strive to be creative only to be bombarded with all the details and frustrated by the fact that by the end of it, we treat it like work. And become impatient and want the finished product right here, right now!

Yet it isn't the destination that is important. It isn't the final product that is most fulfilling aspect. It is the process getting you there and basking in the glory, that yes, you did make this. You had a part in its birth, creation and it was fun making it!

So why frustrate ourselves to the point where we aren't enjoying life and the fact that we are artistic and capable of such beauty? It boils down to perspective, expectation and the current American mindset of instant gratification. The truth is that things take time and it often takes hard work to achieve something great. We shouldn't expect things to happen miraculously and barely manage to produce results worthy of our names. The lack of integrity and accountability is palpable in all aspects, but where it counts the most is in how we view ourselves and act within our lives.

This brings us back to being creative. It is healing in that it brings us back to thinking in the moment, the here and now, rather than ruminating about the past or forever planning tomorrow and years from now. Painting a picture, cooking a gourmet meal, knitting a scarf, planting your very own vegetable garden and even writing poetry draws you away from those thoughts that can turn self-destructive and distracting and channel your energy into something productive and that will bring joy.

For many the tricky part is finding your joy. What would make you happy? What hobby would you look forward to doing at the end of the day or weekends? In those musings do you get to know yourself and discover that you are more than just a housewife, an administrator, caretaker or manager. You are a creative being that deserves to be happy and capable of being beautiful just being you. Then you start to let go of petty office drama and arguments from months to years ago. You start realizing what the buzz is about living in the now and enjoying the process and not hurrying to get to the finish line.

This is my first attempt at crocheting an afghan. It is a very soothing practice and makes watching television exponentially more productive. ^.^ Photo taken by James Badgett