The Benefits of Creativity
Creativity is an important component of our self expression that feeds our instinctive and intuitive nature.
You are probably familiar with the left brain/right brain concept. The attributes of these hemispheres also relate to the masculine and feminine archetypes. The left brain, the masculine archetype, is more the producer, or the make it happen, work in an orderly fashion kind of person. The right brain, feminine archetype, relates to creative, non-linear and intuitive attributes.
Most of us are dominant in one area and it is not about gender.
Today, most modern cultures support the linear, left brain, thinking and behavior. This tends to diminish the more intuitive, creative thinking, right brain attributes. In this mindset, success is measured by getting and having more while the value of being more is ignored.
The idea is to find balance. Using both sides, all sides, all aspects of our brains. Receiving wisdom and knowledge from our intuitive selves and then producing and creating from that deeper knowing.
HuffPost President and Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington put it well in her book, Thrive: On intuition,
“Even when we’re not at a fork in the road, wondering what to do and trying to hear that inner voice, our intuition is always there, always reading the situation, always trying to steer us the right way. But can we hear it? Are we paying attention? Are we living a life that keeps the pathway to our intuition unblocked? Feeding and nurturing our intuition, and living a life in which we can make use of its wisdom, is one key way to thrive, at work and in life.”
Many successful people I’ve coached have utilized that instinctive part of themselves without really knowing what that was. They were following “gut instinct”. Our “gut,” or stomach area, is the best message center for intuition.
How can we nurture our intuition?
One of the best ways is through creative activity. Artistic endeavors, craft activities, music, dance or gardening are all examples of creative activity. There are so many ways to prime this part of yourself. In fact, you probably already do something creative. Can you play music? Cook creatively? Do you scrapbook?
What does creativity have to do with intuition?
When we are engaged in right brain, free flowing activity the thinking part of our mind gets to rest; to have a respite. It gets to relax and recede. This allows our receiving part more space and strengthens the pathway of our intuition.
A simple and easy way for you to experience the flow of creativity is to just color. Get some nice watercolor pencils and a coloring book or journal and follow the example of young children who naturally turn off their brains regularly and just BE.
I’ve had a coloring journal for over 18 years and I’ve noticed a recent trend on coloring books for adults at airports and in books stores everywhere.
I love the coloring journals designed by artist Shiloh Sophia McCloud.
