4 Things You Need to Practice Creativity (It's Not Much)

In making a conscious effort to pursue creativity over the last several years, I have put together a simple four-step plan that anyone can practice and it won't cost you a thing.

1. First, you need a Place.

Find a place where you can do a little dreaming. Make a little mess. Explore on paper or explore in your head. I am lucky enough to have a whole little room dedicated for my craziness. Or creativity. Sometimes you can’t tell the difference. But for the longest time, I didn’t have anything more than a desk. And that works just fine. As does a front step, a cozy chair, or a corner in the kitchen.

The place doesn’t have to be the only spot where you are creative; it is just to have an area, regardless of its size, designated YOURS.

2. Find yourself some Space.

And when I say space, it means finding space in your day, your week, or at times it may be simply in your head.

When your schedule is packed from morning until night with things to do, people to see, or tasks to accomplish, anything creative in you potentially will take a break. Certainly there are periods when the creativity must take a back seat. But if you haven’t done something creative in the last month, your brain needs it. (I really want to say if you haven’t done something creative in the last four hours, but I’m working on being realistic.)

Why are little kids so creative? Because a large portion of their days have space for just that. As they get older and they (or their grown-ups) put more pressure on them with outside activities, the head space for creative adventures shrinks. 

If you are already overwhelmed by the idea of having to squeeze another “thing” into your day, don’t despair.

And throw that “overwhelm-ness” out the window. Creativity is not about that. It may be about discarding something in your day that is not filling you, possibly even draining you.

3. Give yourself ample Grace.

Here are some words that I associate with grace: mercy, pardon, approval, favor, unmerited, non-judgey. That last one—non-judgey—is the only one I could not find in any definition on grace. (I know, shocking. But I did find it on the Internet, so it must be real.)

Let’s face it: we can talk ourselves out of being our best selves with just a few negative words in our heads (or negative words from others). One of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 12:2, which says: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. Not only do you need to ignore the world’s negativity, you need to pay attention to the good things—no, the GREAT things—about you, and remind yourself every day.

4. And finally, Embrace it all.

 Embrace the creativity you have. Embrace the gifts you are exploring. Embrace it all.

Some of you may be doing these things already, and you think, “I still don’t know the best me! I still don’t know what I’m good at.” That’s okay. Just keep at it. We know from Philippians 1:6 that if we are faithful in setting aside time to practice our gifts, our Father will be faithful, too: Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

So go to it, friends. It's time.

(You can see the video version of this on my YouTube channel at the Creative Farm Girl.)