32 Ways to Be Creative (That Have Nothing to Do With Making Art)
n°11: Expand your definition of creativity
In the last newsletter, I insisted that the question was never “Are you creative?” The true question is and will always be “HOW are you creating?”
I’ve put together a list of 32 ways to help expand any narrow definition of what creativity looks like. But first, take this quick poll (it closes in a day). I’ll ask you the same question at the end to see how you feel after you read the list.
Did you take the poll? Yes? Awesome — read on.
32 ways to be creative
Below I offer ways of being creative that have nothing to do with making artwork. I hope you read this list especially if you said you don’t see yourself as a creative person. When you get to the bottom, I think you’ll change your mind. If not, you can fight me in the comments! 😘
When you …
Have a brief and happy exchange at the grocery store
Whip up a nutritious meal for yourself and others
Give a pep talk to lift others up
Express your feelings with your partner to heal the relationship
Lovingly post on social media to help others
… you are creating connection.
When you pay attention to every detail and…
Chew and taste each bite of your meal
Roll around and feel into contact points with the floor
Watch and appreciate how the tree’s leaves move
Take a deep breath down from the top of your crown down to the end of your spine, and back up again
Come all the way home. Like, really come home, in your body and mind
… you are practicing creative presence.
When you…
Improve a process at your job that you just knew could be better
Tend to your plants to help them live
Start a new business
Grow said business
Start a new relationship, or
Grow within said relationship
… you are being a creative catalyst.
When you sit with discomfort and…
Do shadow work to discover what needs to be expressed
Be the container for someone else to fully express
Stand still when your boundary is pushed
Allow yourself to make a necessary mess, or
Listen to your wounded inner child instead of ignore them,
… you are being a creative alchemist.
When you allow space and…
Take a walk to clear your mind
Cancel plans you made before that don’t feel correct anymore
Provide clarity in a discussion to help everyone reach understanding
Take a sizeable leap without knowing where you’ll land, or
“Create a safe environment for my kids to come to me when they feel emotionally dysregulated by staying open, quiet, and curious.” (From Maichi, a SS reader and my IRL sister ❤️ )
… you unlock new levels of creative possibility.
And my favorite, when you follow a little flicker to…
Read a book that sparks you to write down ideas,
Make the decision to try something new (not even doing it yet; just the act of deciding),
Do something new just to see where it takes you,
Sit down to write a to-do list for the day,
For some reason make a left turn instead of right, or
Change seats just because this one doesn’t quite feel right,
… you are creativity in motion.
Creativity is everywhere. Creativity is essential. Creativity is creation in motion.
Creativity is the act of creation in motion — making something new, bringing it into existence. It is an inherently transitional process. And while, sure, you can produce artifacts and results in the act of creation, creativity itself will never be still or complete. Creativity continuously generates and wants your attention and intention. It invites you into the mix, to make choices, to change your mind at any point without warning. It wants you to learn from your own process because that’s how it gets better. Creativity is ongoing until you say the thing is done.
Because of this incompleteness, creativity lives in a perpetual state of imperfection. Every typo, every happy-accident, every half-thought, raw-edged and unforeseen mistake is not only appropriate but encouraged. Creativity is only perfect* in the sense that if your creative process were documented on a film reel, one could take a still from any random timestamp and it would be exactly right. Creativity is perfect when you love it for what it is.
*A brief warning about perfect vs. perfectionism: You might feel intense pressure to be flawless in your creativity. You might want your ideas to be received exactly as you intended and to be validated. Or perhaps your mind goes straight to the process's end result, focusing on how the outcome should look and feel, how “good” and “beneficial” it will be. This is perfectionism and something to watch out for because unfortunately it is the death of creativity.
If you still don’t see yourself as a creative person, I invite you to stay with me into the next and likely final part of this series On Creativity. We’re going to dive how to catalyze the creativity within. In my humble opinion, this is where it gets really fun and interesting because ultimately, creativity is about using your energy in accordance with what you desire. And who doesn’t like getting what they want?!
My next question for you to answer in the comments is, “What do you desire?”
I’ve always admired this way of moving but only recently embraced it as a practice of my own. Danielle LaPorte taught me how to open the door for desire mapping in 2014 when I first became a mom. Helen Wilkes taught me how to step through that door while on a six-month sabbatical in the first half of 2022. And now I’m inviting you into the Studio to “follow the flicker” with me.
In light,
Milan
P.S. Catch up on the first post of this series on Creativity here:
Ooh that comment on perfectionism is something I am working on right now. It really is the "death of creativity" because it only leaves you feeling distrustful of yourself and your abilities (low self esteem). And in a world already full of obstacles, perfectionism is one barrier that is created within your mind preventing you from reaching your full potential. Don't do that to yourself--Be kind. Let yourself grow where it wants to!