The thing I hear constantly from other women are the words, “I’m not creative” or “I don’t have a creative bone in my body”. Honestly every single time I hear that it kills me.
Somewhere along the way we’ve stopped thinking that creativity is an action and have started relating it to the success of a project.
We paint something and stand back thinking “It’s not as good as ________” so we put it in the back of the closet.
Or we help our kids with their project and the next day stand there beating up on ourselves because it’s not as good as other kids, because it’s obvious that their parents helped them too.
Maybe we see a stunning wreath and think to ourselves, “wow! I wish I could make that!” but then a little voice inside mumbles “but I can’t”, so you walk away from it altogether.
Creativity isn’t a bone. It isn’t the finished product. It’s not even what’s going to determine how great the finished product looks. Anyone can follow step by step instructions with pre-created pieces and have a stunning project on their hands.
Creativity is an action. It’s a process.
Being creative simply means that you’re letting your mind drift to the possibility while your heart and hands simply get to have fun.
It doesn’t mean that the paint won’t drip down the sides or that your fingers won’t get glued together.
But you were made to create. Women get to create life. We create homes and sometimes make edible meals for that home (sometimes we don’t – just don’t ask Mr. Byrd about that.)
What if you feel like your mind just doesn’t work in that artistic way?
Well – who defined a certain way as being artistic?
Engineers create and usually they think in a very straightforward A to B style with no pit stops along the way. But they still do it.
People standing in sterile rooms in lab coats and hair nets create. They create medicines that saves lives. That’s an artistry that few will understand.
Many of us say, “we’re not creative”.
And we forget about all we do because it doesn’t fit inside our creative little box. And then we judge that box based on the end game.
Here’s the great news – creativity is not a game and perfection isn’t required.
Stop beating up on yourself because what you made doesn’t look like you think it should look or it’s not as perfect as you think another person’s is.
Embrace creativity as an action.
It’s something you do simply because you want to do it.
Stop saying you don’t have a creative bone in your body.
You already have exactly what you need. Stop trying to mold yourself to be someone else’s creative process. Be yourself. Find your style or your creative way and run with it.
Run like the wind because you are creative and there’s some really messy craft projects just waiting for you.
I know what some of you are saying, “I bleed creativity”. Awesome! Now share this post with your friends that say they’re not creative!