The Power of One Small Creative Thing
When we add one small creative thing into our day, it slowly ripples out. One day, and another day, and it adds up. Before we know it we’re living a creative life. We’re looking forward to glimmers of pleasure, joy, creativity, play. We’re surrounding ourselves with colour, beauty, and choosing to spend our time with others who value the same things. We begin by making time for it. We protect that time, prioritizing it over other things. It’s incredible how powerful one small thing can be, and how the ripples can affect all areas of our lives and wellbeing.
Earlier this spring I joined a paint circle with my friend Mati, and a small group of wonderful women from around the globe. We meet on zoom once a week to play with paint, and I know that I will have this uninterrupted time to play, experiment, connect, and delight. It began as a simple knowing that I needed more joy—to play more. Life felt too serious, and I was holding too much. It has rippled out beyond our weekly circle, and the mindset and energy are showing up in my other days too. I’m having art friends over for studio playdates, I’ve enjoyed baking with my son, I’ve made flower petal mandalas and enjoyed mending torn clothing. I’m reading a novel for fun. No agenda, no timeframe, simply the joy of one chapter, or a few pages when I feel inspired to pick it up. I feel more playful when doing my client projects—yes they are feeling more creative too! Where do I find the time? Life is so full, and yet these tiny moments have just flowed into my days, somehow with ease. Like they are expanding time. They are giving me energy. And it all began with simply choosing one small thing.
Heaps of Creative Expression
Here are some of the lovely makings that are coming out of my art playdates. No agenda, no editing. Just allowing and playing, relaxing into it and following one impulse to the next. Trusting that my art comes out exactly as it’s meant to. Knowing something wants to be expressed. The practice of simply looking at colours, and spreading them around on the page is in itself incredibly nourishing.
The Kaizen Way
I really enjoyed this book a few years ago – One Small Step - The Kaizen Way. It touches on the theme of tiny steps accumulating into change. I loved reading the ‘why” behind why this works, and I’m loving seeing it happen in my own life.
I wonder what one small creative thing you might add to your day, or one small step you feel inspired to take?
x
