Permission to Creatively Express Yourself

Back in early November I decided to take on a small part time job, working a few hours each week at a home decorating store. I greet and assist customers who are looking to accessorize their homes, whether it be a new vase along with something to put in it, some accent pillows for their couch, some candles for the mantle... you get the drift. I am continually surprised by the number of folks who ask me to tell them what they should pick to display in their home, as they are too intimidated and afraid of doing something "wrong". And when they do have some idea of what they may want, they then ask for my permission, wanting validation that it's ok to go ahead. They would rather trust the input of a complete stranger, (me) then trust their own inner guidance. While I am happy to help, it makes me sad to find so many adults disconnected from their own personal self-expression.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I am well aware that somewhere along our formative years, too many children get the message that their ideas aren't good enough. That their "mistakes" void their successes. Teenage years hammer home the importance of conformity, (even when it is disguised as nonconformity). It's no wonder that we continually produce grown-ups who can't even display a group of candlesticks without a small panic attack.

The act of allowing yourself to tap into the vein of creativity, (which runs through all of us) and to trust where it will take you, is essential for the well being and growth of a healthy society. Without it the Wright Brothers would have never gotten in the air, Jonas Salk would not have found the cure for polio, and Georgia O'Keeffe never would have had what it must have taken to move away from NewYork and the power of Stieglitz, out to the barren terrain and big sky of New Mexico, painting in a way that no one else had ever done before.

This is what I wish I could convey about expressing yourself and creativity...

You have the right to decide what you like and don't like, even if it is not the popular choice at the moment. (Remember, the popular choice is a fickle thing... what is in today will be out tomorrow because it is manufactured that way by an industry that wants to keep you buying, whether it be home goods, fashion, kitchen cabinetry, etc., etc.) So pay attention to what attracts you. Don't get hung up on having all your likes fit neatly into the same category... I like the look of worn and weathered as well as streamlined Mid Century. Remember, God created a diverse world. It's okay for you to have diverse tastes. (Pinterest is a great tool for collecting and organizing diverse image collections of things that you are pulled to).

Despite what you have been led to believe, there is no right and wrong when it comes to creativity. You have a right to play and experiment. It is the only authentic way to get from point A to point B. And remember, your creative path will be different from my path, and her path, and his path, because it will be your path. Just like your fingerprint is uniquely yours, so should your path be.

While traveling your path expect to stumble and fall sometimes, as well as travel in the dark at times. Do it without fear, and it will strengthen all of your senses and instincts. Before you know it, you will be more sure of foot and confident in your creative ability and decisions.

Be careful of who you listen to and whose creative advice you seek. Some people are creatively toxic, (intentionally or not) and sadly, not everyone has your best interest at heart. Absolutely learn from those that you respect, but pay attention to your gut. Take what feels right and dismiss the rest. Just because it's right for one or some, doesn't mean it's right for you or everyone. Again, this is all about forging your path, not blindly walking the paths others have forged, (no matter how attractive or appealing they may seem. Remember... all paths start out with some rough bumps and thick undergrowth).

Embrace day dreaming. Despite what they told you in school, it is not a waste of time. Day dreaming strengthens your imagination. Close your eyes, or stare out the window, and inwardly focus on something you would like to work on. Let your mind wander and allow images and thoughts to come to you. If an idea pops up that seems worthy of further examination, delve deeper into it. Let more thoughts and images come to you. Jot down notes and doodle if you need help remembering. Then try out those ideas. Some will work, others won't. That is just how it is. Embrace what works, learn from what doesn't.

That's how you grow creatively. That's how you find and strengthen your voice. That's how you put your fingerprint on this world, because no matter how large or how small,
it has a right to be there.

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Thanks for indulging me and my soapbox. I'll be back next post with some photos of new work. xo