Three myths about your creative practice and why it’s holding you back
Why you don’t need lots of pens, why you are naturally creative, and how to create more time.
Let’s get real. There are times in our life when the weight of the world is just too much. News spirals, family dynamics feel tough, work lacks passion and we’re emotionally exhausted.
These times feed our negative bias just enough to make us hang on to the idea that “I just can’t…”, “I’m not good at this…”, “I don’t have time…”. Of course, this was all there pre-2020, but our Post-COVID era is a catalyst for this. Mental health issues are 25% higher, burnout has risen drastically, and our anxiety levels are peaking, naturally.
Speaking quite generally, this filters through into lots of areas of our lives and holds us back from really moving forward and feeling clear on what we want to be doing.
Speaking more specifically: we need creativity.
'Neurological studies have shown that engaging in purposeful, creative and meaningful activities can act as a natural antidepressant by improving mood.’ - Metro, 2021
Lockdowns gave people a chance to explore their creative sides - unapologetically - but many have since shifted back to feeling guilty when doing something creative, or guilty for not finding time to practice.
So what can we do? Let’s take a look at the common stories we’re spinning, and how to un-spin them!
1. “I need lots of pens or art supplies”
There are amazing art supplies, materials, stationery out there (we all love a bit of stationery!), but in fact, you need very little to just get creating.
Many art forms do require special kit, materials, specific environments, but this is not necessary for calligraphy. And that’s just another reason why I love it quite so much! You can do it with just a pencil and paper.
I’ve created a new freebie to show you exactly that: how to learn calligraphy, with just a pencil! Downloadable worksheets, a quick tutorial and in 30 mins you’ll be calming your mind and feeling more focused and inspired. Dreamy.
2. “I need to be naturally creative” / “I’m not creative”
Welcome to myth spiralling 101! This one loves to feed off your insecurity and like candy floss it spins bigger and bigger (just less tasty).
In fact studies have found that everyone is born creative (first studies by George Land, 1968). But 98% of us seem to have “lost” our creativity by the time we’re in our 30s. Maybe we lost it at school? At work? Through constant comparison of others? The evidence is everywhere, and if you need to feel uncreative, the world will happily help you.
“Whilst you may not be exercising your creative genius at the moment, you certainly have the raw materials. The good news is that it can be regained.” - Psychology Today, 2019
Whilst it may feel uncomfortable at first, here’s some tips to practice getting creative:
Leave perfectionism behind, just be curious and playful
Stop comparing. You are your own creative - create in your way
Notice everyday creativity. You’re thoughts, ideas, meals, hair styles, project planning, problem solving, exercise…it’s all being created, by you.
“Creativity is likely to flounder when it is not nurtured” - Kathryn Haydon
3. “I DON’T HAVE TIME!”
Want the hard truth? You do. What you’re really saying is ‘this isn’t a priority right now’. And that’s fine too. But consider the lack mindset when you’re repeating the theme that you don’t have time for something.
Your time is yours, create the doing/being within it. How does it look? How does it feel to you? Can you adjust and tweak your routines, your plans to incorporate some everyday creativity?
Wellness Business Mentor, Vicky Shilling, explores just this and provides brilliant mindset shifts in her podcast Just Start Now. She explains: “I go a little deeper into the mindset blocks around time and how by changing that mindset you might find you actually get better results in your business”. And this is just as relevant for business, as it is for our creativity.
What creativity can offer is a sense of abundance. That time is slowing down - then you really do have time!
I have taught calligraphy to hundreds of people. Most have never used a brush pen. Some really struggle with perfectionism, or mental health issues, I have even taught people with physical restrictions, one with severe arthritis in her hand, and another with a severe skin condition restricting movement throughout her body. But all were able to access the mindful benefits that calligraphy gives.
Calligraphy (even with a pencil) can access your flow state, your Alpha brain waves, calming your mind, deepening your breathing, lowering your heart rate. The benefits to your wellbeing are endless.
But time is precious, so I have created a freebie you can do in just 30 mins, in the hope that it will open up the idea that you can make time, you do have time, and by slowing down you can enjoy more of it.
Grab your free worksheets and tutorial here.
Join me for a workshop in 2022 and kick-start your creativity with calligraphy!
