Living a Creative Life - Why bother?
Hi friends, I’m so happy to share a rewarding journey that I’m currently on as I lead a group of entrepreneurial women in my online course called THE CLARITY COURSE. In just four weeks, I’m sharing how they can tap into their creative energy in order to gain clarity and to thrive - just as I’ve had to do over the course of many years running my own brand since 2006 - mostly alone from my home office - while juggling motherhood, the death of both of my parents, relocating to a foreign country, and so much more. My goal for the class is to guide my students through several creative exercises and prompts, to find a clear direction forward, whether it's for their careers or personal goals related to health, relationships, family, or anything else where they’re feeling a little stuck at the moment.
Every Thursday, we gather for an hour-long call, where we discuss CLARITY and so much more. It's like a mini mastermind session, a woman’s circle, and for me a real opportunity to show support and to guide these incredible women as they find a little more light on their pathways through creative endevors such as vision boarding, mood boards, creative mind mapping, artful journaling, journaling and more. Let me tell you, this course is an absolute delight! And just like with everything I teach online and off, I find myself learning too—learning from each student who interacts with me in class, as they open up about their insecurities, challenges, triggers, fears, and issues but also share their triumphs and wins - what works for them, what they do to stay motivated, and how they’re ultimately leveling up.
We're all on this journey together and you really realize how similar we all are when you take a moment to really talk to people but also to deeply listen to them.
One thing I also learn when I teach is that living a creative life is more than just pursuing artistic endeavors or engaging in hobbies. And finding clarity is more than just journaling or occassionally opening up your CALM app or doing yoga now and then. You also can’t just tell students BE CREATIVE and to GET CLARITY. It’s a mindset to develop, a practice, a way of being that allows us to tap into the depths of our imagination, express our unique perspectives, and infuse every aspect of our existence with a sense of wonder and possibility but also a person genuinely has to WANT more for themselves, for their life. I’m learning this myself. You have to get to a point where you just wake up and demand more out of life. Then you work hard to set your goals and reach them. And you know what? This isn’t easy, it takes dedication and work just as much as getting out of bed at 6am and choosing to take a morning run before the kids wake up… It’s a challenge and it requires putting yourself in that headspace and forcing yourself to lace up your sneakers and just go.
Let’s talk about what creative living means to me and how it can enrich everyday experiences, ignite our passions, and transform our outlook on the world. I really believe that by embracing a more Creative Life, we can express ourselves more authentically but also become clear on the things we want and don’t want in our life which is empowering but also critical to our overall happiness.
SELF EXPRESSION
Let’s talk about how living a creative life gives us the chance to self express more clearly. Living a creative life allows us to embrace our innate freedom to express ourselves authentically and fearlessly. It means recognizing that we all possess innate creative potential, whether it's through painting, writing, cooking, gardening, or even problem-solving and it’s about honoring our unique voice and allowing it to shine brightly without all of that self-doubt or those looming expectations of our family or society as a whole pulling us down. When we give ourselves permission to be creative, we tap into inspiration, innovation, and personal growth.
STAY CURIOUS!
Living a creative life is a continuous journey of exploration and curiosity. So let’s talk more about how it nurtures our creativity. In my opinion, being creative allos us to bring back our childlike sense of wonder and we do this by actively seeking new experiences, perspectives, and knowledge that we may otherwise believe to be immature or silly. For instance, we may believe painting ceramics on the weekends or do a puzzle is immature or silly, or even doing kareoke at home with our friends. We might believe coloring in those coloring books for adults is also silly. The thing is , it’s fun to open up our hearts and minds to anything that can bring us closer to creative nature. I mean, as long as it’s legal and doesn’t hurt our family members.
We can also stay curious by immersing ourselves in the world around us, observing the intricate details of nature, engaging in meaningful conversations, or traveling to different cultures and really try to speak the local language, we open our minds to fresh ideas and expand our creative horizons. Curiosity fuels our imagination and allows us to connect seemingly unrelated concepts which can lead to innovative solutions and groundbreaking creations on our part.
VALUE THE LITTLE THINGS
Living a creative life means cultivating an appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us in the ordinary moments of life. I really believe it’s about seeing the extraordinary in the mundane, finding inspiration in the simplest of things. Whether it's the play of light through a window, the vibrant colors of a bustling street, or the soothing melody of raindrops on the roof, embracing our creative spirit enables us to find joy and wonder in the small details that often go unnoticed.
By infusing our everyday lives with creativity, we enhance our overall well-being and bring a sense of enchantment to our existence. We appreciate more around us, we are grateful to be alive, to have what we have, and we feel more content with hearts that feel more full and less empty.
IT’S OKAY TO BE VULNERABLE
It’s also important to embrace vulnerability and resilience as you live a more creative life as creativity often involves taking risks, stepping outside of our comfort zones, and sharing our creations with the world. Most of us who are online using social platforms know how unnatural it can sometimes feels to share certain elements of our lives online and we wonder how some content creators do it. In my opinion, those who share so freely online shows that they’ve learned to embrace that not everything they do will come out perfectly but they understand that growth and engagement with their audience comes from opening themselves up and being more vunerable. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, new possibilities, new connections, and even personal transformations can result.
Living a creative life is a choice—an empowering decision to honor our unique gifts, passions, and perspectives. It’s a way of being that infuses every moment with intention, self-expression, and a deep appreciation for the beauty and wonder that surrounds us. By embracing our creativity, we unlock the extraordinary potential within us and inspire others to do the same.
Have a lovely weekend, everyone.
Love,
Holly
Thank you for this eloquent reminder/nudge to slow down and see the little things and embrace creativity as not just the act of creating something but the entire perspective and way of life that fosters self-expression.
This is a great post! I whole heartedly believe living a creative life means embracing small moments that feed our souls. When we broaden our ability to think and live creatively we become more and more satisfied.