Dare to embrace your creative self

One of my biggest lessons from bringing intention and focus to my signature strength of creativity last week is that creativity manifests itself in different ways for different people. There’s a distinction to be made between being Creative (with a big C) and creativity (with a little c).

Creativity (big C) manifests itself through art, music, movement, and more. For me, this type of creativity comes out every once in a while. Creativity (little c), however, manifests itself in our daily activities and helps us find new ways to solve problems, blaze new trails, and find our own unique path.

To cultivate creativity (little c), we can find new places to work, explore new parts of our city, or talk to different people. My best ideas tend to happen when I’m out in nature – walking, jogging, or just sitting – and when I’m journaling or reading. When I’m involved in these activities, there are no boundaries, no rules, no expectations for specific outcomes and my brain opens up.

Last week, I drew upon my signature strength of creativity (little c) to:

• Break past a mental block when writing. I packed up my things and went to a stimulating environment. Once there, the writing flowed. 
  
• Get started on a special project for a client. I explored various ways to connect information that I had gathered for them and put it together in a way that would make sense.
  
• Revisit my 2015 business goals and plan. I challenged myself to think bigger and differently about how to accomplish them.
  

Even if you don’t think you’re Creative (big C), creativity (small c) is available to all of us.  You, too, can use the strength of creativity to bring freshness and originality to your day.  

• How can you bring more creativity to your work?
  
• How can you leverage creativity in your relationships?
  
• In what creative ways could you “spice up” a mundane task or chore? 
  

As Gail McMeekin wrote in 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women, “Your creative self is alive and waiting for your invitation to evolve! Dare to embrace your creative self and manifest your dreams. Recognizing your creativity leads you into a life of self-expression, fulfillment, and contribution.”

Will you dare to embrace your creative self today?

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Resources: Character Strengths and VIA Survey

Peterson, C., & Park, N. (2009). Classifying and measuring strengths of character. In S. J. Lopez & C. R. Snyder (Eds.), Oxford handbook of positive psychology, 2nd edition (pp. 25-33). New York: Oxford University Press. www.viacharacter.org

Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. New York: Oxford University Press and Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. www.viacharacter.org