Creativity is a central component of engagement with our equine partners and the key to any successful business. But creativity isn’t just for artists, CEO’s, and organizations, it also has numerous benefits for daily living.
“Generating new ideas is not just a chance process… It does not happen to people who are not curious or inquiring or who are not engaged in a hard search for opportunities, possibilities, answers or inventions.”1
In our work with the horses we always say “there is no right or wrong, there is no failure, there is only the opportunity to do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.”
Creativity means taking risks…you have to be willing to do something that doesn’t work before you hit on something that does.
As Thomas Edison said after 10,000 attempts at creating the lightbulb: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Taking the risk to engage creativity can be daunting at times, so remembering why creativity is important can help us take the leap.
Here are 7 ways we benefit from Harnessing our Creativity:
1. Better Problem Solving
Life is full of challenges! Our ability to successfully navigate obstacles and solve problems can be the difference between a bad day / week and a feeling of accomplishment in the face of adversity. By nurturing our creativity we learn new ways of looking at things and inspire our resourcefulness.
2. Self Awareness & Self Expression
Creativity is the route to authenticity. As we create, we plumb the depths of our being, accessing what we think and believe. You may be surprised at the resources, thoughts and impulses you discover there.
3. Expanded Sense of Time
Creativity and focus bring our full attention to where we are now and what we are doing, taking us away from the never ending “to-do” list. When we are truly focused and in the present moment, time feels limitless. Strangely enough, when we give ourselves the time to engage in creative pursuits, we gain the relaxed feeling of more time in daily life.
4. Connection with others, enhanced relationships and a sense of community.
Many people fear that if they begin living their creativity, their relationships and other priorities will suffer. They won’t want to drag themselves away from the creative zone. However, in healthy creativity the opposite is so – when we are actively creating, we feel better about our relationships. We tend to be more generous towards others and have more to give because we have answered our own instinctive urge to create.
5. Freedom
Creativity invites messiness and exploration. It’s an opportunity to return to that feeling of being a child – not needing to “know”, or having to be to be “good” or “right”. There is no right or wrong way to be creative. When we create, we are given the opportunity to engage with the world without judging ourselves. We have permission to take risks, try new things, and strip away inhibitions in a healthy way.
6. More Energy!
Flexing our creative muscle inspires a more energetic, lighter sense of self. Call it a good mood. Call it a natural high. Call it living InBalance. The focus, connection and release we experience while we do our creative work restores our energy for our other responsibilities!
7. Stress Relief
Creating is meditative. Taking the time to use our hands, minds, and energy doing something we love brings us back to our authentic selves and helps us notice the world around us from a deeper perspective. Being creative makes us happy! Expressing ourselves without judgment or limits is FUN, and doing anything that brings joy instantly reduces our stress levels and improves our quality of life. What could be more important than that?
Learn more about how to Harness your Creativity & Inspire your Best Self through our upcoming Creative Living Workshop or our Propelling Success Series of workshops!
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