MINDFULNESS & WELLBEING June 2023

Everyday creativity

In last month’s article on avoiding negativity bias, we mentioned the idea of seeking joy and inspiration in everyday things, as a means of countering the negative concepts that we are exposed to. In this article, we’ll write more about how to see the creative side to different situations and to use this as inspiration to create and think in our own lives. 

Why should we be creative, and what does being creative even mean? According to the Everyday Creativity Research Network, creativity takes two forms. In its most commonly-understood sense, it means creating something tangible like a piece of artwork or music: something inspiring and memorable that will last for a period of time. The second form of creativity focuses more on the way we think about and perceive the world, and involves doing things in an original or imaginative way. 

Creativity is important on so many levels. It connects us with others; it provides a vehicle for self-expression; it allows us to make our mark on the world and to produce something that might continue to live on after us. More practically, creative hobbies in the traditional sense of the word can be useful in providing us with interesting or even practical items, whether this is a stew or a scarf.

Despite this, for many of us there are obstacles to being creative, most notably self-doubt. It’s easy to tell ourselves that we lack imagination or are not creative, and a lot of the time original and imaginative thought can be trained out of us in school or by our social environment. Real creativity takes courage. 

And on a more banal note, it’s hard to find time to act or even think creatively while mired in the stresses and distractions of everyday life. In the rest of our article, we’ll provide some tips about how to face life in a creative way. 

First of all, trust in yourself and have courage. Most importantly, don’t be afraid of making mistakes, since this is a key part of the process. It’s often necessary to explore a lot of avenues and hit a few dead ends before coming up with something really special. 

Expand your idea of what being creative involves. Art and creativity aren’t all oil paintings. Indeed, with the right amount of imagination and thought, we can apply creativity to so many scenarios, including everyday tasks like cooking and gardening. 

Start small and do what you have time for and you feel comfortable with. If you’re daunted by going off-plan, do something that doesn’t involve a lot of ‘vision’, such as following a knitting or sewing pattern, trying out one of those grown-up colouring books, or making small changes to your home environment.

Seek inspiration from other people. If you’re able to visit a gallery or take in a performance, that’s great, but even if your finances and time are stretched, there’s so much inspiration to draw from online platforms such as Pinterest. And for all that social media can be a double-edged sword, it’s a great way of learning about hobbies or creative forms of expression that you enjoy. 

And if you want to come up with ideas or see things differently, always try to venture outside of your immediate environment, even if this just means going for a walk or sitting in a park. It’s amazing how much of a difference a break in routine can make. If you aren’t able to get out then just taking a break in the house can make a difference. It’s amazing how many people say they get their best ideas while showering. 

Most importantly of all, share your results! A lot of the time, something which you find underwhelming will be regarded by others as fascinating. Even if it’s only among your immediate family and friends, they’ll no doubt be thrilled to see the product of your efforts - and maybe inspired to create and share something of their own.

Have you found ways to weave creativity into your everyday life, and do you feel that it’s helped you? Feel free to write about your results - or send us photographs! We’d love to see what our community has come up with.

Source:

AHRC Everyday Creativity Research Network. Available at blogs.brighton.ac.uk/everydaycreativity