Start Your Creative Journey
“UNICORN SPACE: the active and open pursuit of creative self-expression that makes you uniquely you.”
– Eve Rodsky
We talk about a lot of weighty subjects in this email every week, but this week’s topic is all about having fun! Tapping into our creativity is a healthy and fulfilling way to have fun, and it can lead to self-growth and improvement on many levels.
Everyone has the ability to express themselves creatively, even if you don’t think of yourself as creative. The most important part is to be YOU, and to have fun. And the only requirement is that you do something that truly interests you, that revitalizes you, that you enjoy. Any activity that allows you to express yourself in your own unique way will work. You don’t have to be an expert or have special skills. You just need to do it.
Developing a creative mindset will help, and here are three tools, inspired by this blog, for doing just that:
BELIEVE. You were born creative! Children don’t overthink their abilities – they just DO. They have an insatiable curiosity to learn new things, understand how things work, and creatively solve problems.
TRY. A creative mindset utilizes the best of a growth mindset. It’s about being a lifelong learner and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone to try new things.
BE CURIOUS. Take a moment to ponder a question or think about something in a different way. Ask how things work or how they fit together (or how they don’t). Take the road less traveled.
Finding space is also important, whether it’s a physical space (such as a kitchen or a studio), or just holding space in your daily life so you have the opportunity to express your creativity regularly. One of my favorite books is Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky. From the book’s description: “This personal time – what Rodsky calls Unicorn Space, what makes us interesting – isn’t just a luxury … it’s a necessity for our mental health, our physical well-being, and our very sense of self. … Rodsky shows us a clear plan to reclaim the lost art of having fun, manifest your own Unicorn Space in an already-too-busy life, and unleash your talents into the world.”
Maybe best of all, there are no rules for creative expression! And it is truly about the journey, not the outcome. You’re in control, and you get to create what you want in whatever way you want. Where will your creativity take YOU?