Creativity - Your Source of Joy!

“When we don’t create or express, we get homesick – homesick for ourselves. We’re missing the richness, the beauty inside of us.” – Pam Grout

Did you know that most depression is caused by unclaimed creative expression? In my healing practice, many of ...“When we don’t create or express, we get homesick – homesick for ourselves. We’re missing the richness, the beauty inside of us.” – Pam Grout

Did you know that most depression is caused by unclaimed creative expression? In my healing practice, many of the clients I see are depressed in some way. The reason? They tell me its because life has become boring and dull. There is no more excitement or sparkle. Their relationships have lost their passion and adventure. Their job is unfulfilling. They feel lethargic and unmotivated. Whenever I hear any of these reasons, I know they are homesick. Homesick for themselves. And while it may feel as though a new job, or partner, or body, or house would instantly lift us out of the darkness, this is never the soul solution. The answer always lies within us, and that answer is getting in touch with the part of ourselves that is pure, divine creative life force, or as I like to call it – God.

Creative life force, Source Energy, God, the Universe, there are many names given for the light within us from which we were all created. And beyond any shadow of doubt in my mind, beyond any reasoning I may have been brought up with, the undeniable truth about living a life of joy, bliss and freedom is tapping into this divinity within – tapping into our own creative energy.

What is creativity? What does it really feel like in terms of everyday life? To me, I know I’ve touched into my creative energy when my heart is smiling, when I’ve lost track of time, when I’m able to multi-task effortlessly and quickly, when I’m filled with wonder and peace at the same time, when deep down inside I know I’ve just created something truly amazing and don’t need anyone to tell me this, when everything just seems to flow.

Creativity is taking something that did not exist before and bringing it into being with your own unique stamp on it. For example, the words which I’m writing upon this page have never, ever, existed before in the way they are formed together right here and now as you are reading them. I am the only person capable of creating this original compilation of thought form which is putting these sentences and paragraphs together. Why? Because, as author Brenda Ueland so truthfully stated, “You are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable.” Because I have come to accept this truth at the deepest level of my being, I no longer struggle and fight with feelings of inadequacy or competition. Yes, I realize there are thousands of writers, but no one can write like me.

Another thing I’ve come to realize is that there isn’t just one way we’ve come here to create. We may end up choosing just one particular way to create because it brings us and others the most joy, or we may choose several ways. For me, writing and healing are my avenues to uplift and inspire myself and others. It is the way I have chosen to bring my life’s work into the world and be a messenger of joy. However, I feel all the same magical feelings of being in the creative flow when I’m cooking up a storm in the kitchen, when I’m in my garden, when I’m drawing pictures with my daughter, when I’m singing or dancing, when I’m out in nature taking pictures, when I’m figuring out the best way to complete many tasks in a day, when I’m making a collage.

Sometimes, if we’ve been neglecting the creative life force within ourselves, we have to start with just one small thing, like wearing a color we’ve never worn before, or driving a different route to work. These tiny changes are like sparks of life exploding in your soul. You are sending a very powerful message to your being that you are choosing adventure over safety, creativity over boredom, life over death! The more tiny steps we take in this direction, the more open we become to having the life giving, life enhancing power of love (which is pure creative life force) flowing through us.
For me, if I feel stuck with my writing, or anywhere for that matter, I know I have to go and be creative somewhere else. I usually end up going into the kitchen to cook and create something scrumptious. This will usually get things flowing again. Sometimes I just need a change of scenery so I’ll go for a walk. Whatever I do, it has to involve not knowing the outcome and just going with the flow.

To be creative is to be sizzling with life energy! If life has become boring, mundane, depressing or hopeless, it’s time to take some risks. It’s time to stop wanting to be so absolutely sure about everything. It’s time to take a leap of faith in some area of your life. It’s time to let go and surrender to a higher power. It’s time to know you are not in charge, no matter how hard you try to be. It’s time to follow your heart. It’s time to break an old habit. It’s time to not know how to do something. It’s time to not know how something will turn out. It’s time to be outright outrageous! Your life is NOW! It’s time!

“As I listen to the part of me that wants to paint rainbows all over the house and dig up the lawn to plant wildflowers, I realize I am not listening to me, but to the creator. The part of me inside myself that makes the sun come up and the birds sing in the rain. I can’t see it but I can feel it and hear it. Softly it comes to me. It speaks to every living thing. Nature hears it loud and clear. There is no greater teacher. It is perfect and so am I if only I listen.” - journal entry 1999