In fourth grade I was chosen to assist my favorite teacher display student art work around the school. That made me proud.
The art projects weren’t signed and when my teacher unknowingly got to mine, I heard her quietly whisper “oh poor kid.” That made me sick. I was so embarrassed. To this day I won’t go near Pictionary.
Unless we choose to change our perceptions around the “I’m not good enough, smart enough, (Fill in the blank)….. beliefs we internalize as kids, they fester and have the potential to crush our dreams.
Until three years ago, that fourth grade moment defined 40 years of discounted creativity because I bought into the “I’m not creative” B.S. (belief system).
So when a group of my friends signed up for a “Paint Journey”, I decided to go. This was my chance. With sweaty palms and a pounding heart I picked up a paint brush for the first time in 40 years and spent an entire weekend painting intuitively. When it was over, I couldn’t wait to paint again!
What I experienced that weekend had less to do with painting and more to do with acknowledging and expressing my creativity.
After four decades I finally began deleting the “I am not creative” B.S.
For some of the sessions, I was working next to a professional painter. Remarkably, she was the one having the most difficulty. Her B.S. said your paintings have to be perfect. She was so conditioned to painting from the images in her head. She couldn't let them go and try something new.
My head on the other hand, was a blank canvas, there was nothing there to let go of, except of course, the intimidation of painting next to an aspiring Georgia O'Keefe.
At one point “Georgia” got so frustrated she put her paint brush down. Just quit painting. The instructor came over to assist and Georgia turned and pointed to me and said – I want to paint like her!
That made me proud. Comparison is the death of the soul. Like fingerprints, creativity is meant to be original and uniquely you. It’s not about being Monet or Mozart. It’s about tapping into your inner five year old, letting go and having fun. And when you do, the creative juices flow. Everything becomes richer, easier more inspired and FUN.
You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.”
For more inspiration and ideas to tap in to your creativity:
Tips to Tap Into Your Creativity
Listen to the whispers,
Mindy
http://www.healingheartenergy.com