How Simplicity Encourages Creativity
If you’ve ever been moved by a book, brought to tears by a painting or photograph, gotten goosebumps hearing a song for the first time, or tasted a culinary masterpiece, you know there is more than sheer talent behind each creation.
There is something majestic, something bigger. You feel it and the artist feels it.
If you are an artist or like to create, you might notice that sometimes creativity just happens.
You may write, draw, cook, throw pots or paint on a schedule, or get started when you think you are ready, but there are times when creativity takes over and moves you to make something, regardless of talent, time or any rational reason.
If you are the creative type, there are things you can do to maximize productivity, but there are also times when creativity dictates the when/how/where/what. When that happens, listen.
For me, that often comes when I’m practicing yoga or working out and in the 30 seconds just before I start drifting off to sleep. If sleep is as important to you as it is to me, you know that it’s a struggle to get up and be creative instead of continue to drift and dream.
In this beautiful TED talk, Elizabeth Gilbert talks about how past civilizations believed that magical divine entities invisibly assist artists.
I particularly love when she talks about meeting American Poet, Ruth Stone, who tells her that when she was growing up in Virginia, she would be working in the fields and she would feel and hear a poem coming at her from over the landscape. When she felt it coming, she knew she only had one thing to do and that was “run like hell”. She would run like hell to the house and she’d be getting chased by this poem and she had to get to a pencil and paper fast enough, so that when it thundered through her, she could collect it.
If you’ve ever had a creative idea “thunder through you”, you know you want it to happen again. I think the thundering happens more often than we might imagine, but we miss it, because we are too busy paying attention to the things we think matter.
I believe that we all have creative abilities. In fact, I think many have no idea how talented they really are. My uncle started painting when he was in his seventies. Beautiful landscapes had been sitting in his heart and soul, but only when he had the time to listen, could he put it them on canvas.
By simplifying our lives, we can listen and respond when creativity calls.
Creating is not just painting. Creativity comes in many forms… writing, fine art, teaching, cooking, working out, exploring and more. When these things speak to you, do them. Even if you have to clear 1/2 a day to make 4 flavors of hummus from Eat, Drink & Be Vegan. Even if you have to stay up late to hike and watch the stars dance.
Please make creativity matter and…
- put your words on paper
- put your paint on canvas
- put your music in my ears
- put your cupcakes on the table
- enjoy the creativity that others have to offer
Let’s embrace our creative moments when they present themselves instead of waiting until we are ready.
Recommending reading on creativity
- The Line in the Sand
- On Being Present
- The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Artistic Confidence
- The Artist’s Way
How do you create?
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If simplicity is changing your life, imagine what it could do for your business.
33 Responses to “How Simplicity Encourages Creativity”
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LOVE this! …signing off to journal…
You go girl!
This is fantastic Courtney. And what an amazing photo!
I know exactly what you’re saying about creativity coming through us rather than from us. It’s my belief that we’re helped along the way with our creative endeavors and are oftentimes used as a tool to spread a message. Even if the message is *just* something beautiful that moves another human and makes him feel something.
Just last night I lost a creative stream of words running through me. I was getting the kids ready for bed and by the time I went to write down my thoughts, they had evaporated back into the ethers. Hopefully another creative soul receive and acted upon the words which I had lost.
Beautiful post.
Jenny, Sometimes when I lose the stream, it comes back to me even stronger. I’m hoping it comes back to you.
I’ve experienced so much of the same…the bursts of creativity that happen in the silence..and especially while practicing yoga. Wonderful post!
Marcie, Yoga and easy cycling does it for me!
I have tried to look at it from so many perspectives. With me, it hits hard and I need to go quiet the monster. I do that by throwing a big blog of clay on a wheel and making something. I’ll get inspired by a photo, two lines, or a piece of pottery that blows me away. Following the muse, always following the muse. If I say to myself, I should want to write, because I need to write, invariably I end up throwing clay. Then I think, what IS that? WHY? Then I give up trying to figure it out.
The same thing does happen with writing. Last winter, I was at the big box store and I thought of a premise for a story. I did not have a pen with me or a piece of paper, just my wallet. I ended up leaving my cart in the middle of the store and driving home. I kept repeating out loud Girl Airport Vineyard Coffee Shop to remind me what the premise of the story was (this is what menopause will do to you) all the way home and went home to write the first chapter of the story. I am now writing chapter 23. Who knows what will happen with it.
I get great ideas for that novel when I am on the pottery wheel, but then my hands are covered with nasty wet clay as are my clothes. So I have these messy notes, too….
Wow, your post hit something in me that needed to come out!! I am going to think about this more now. You are lovely.
Diana, You are lovely too and a beautiful artist. I think the answer is to always have a small note pad and pen with you, even though it’s not always practical. You never can tell when the thundering will happen!
This is beautiful and inspiring! It makes me want to go write something! I usually have to start the creative process (writing, cooking, homemaking), but then there’s a point where I can feel the “shift” where something else takes over. The stuff that arises when I let that happen is always the best.
And, I’ve taken to carrying a pen and paper with me wherever I go. I get a lot of good ideas at traffic lights.
Amy, I know this sounds silly, but sometimes if I get a great idea while driving, and can’t write it down, I’ll sort of sing about it until I can. Helps me remember.
Love this post, just shared on Facebook! I’ve been learning to “strike while the iron is hot”, and not miss those great opportunities. Write down ideas before I forget them. Work on something when I have the drive or inspiration. Of course sometimes we need to work on things anyway, but so much more gets done (and better) when we don’t ignore those moments. It works on chores, too… Sometimes I get the urge to clean something or work in the yard, and if I can, I just go do it right then before I lose the desire to tackle it! (because later never happens!)
Jennifer, Thanks so much for sharing this post! You are so right about chores, but I like writing and creating much better.
LOVE your blog and especially love this entry. Thank you for reminding me of the creativity in so many of the “ordinary” parts of my day…encourages me to do more.
Liz, the simpler my life becomes, the more I see that there is nothing ordinary about our lives. Glad you like the post.
Such a beautiful post Courtney – thank you.
What I take from it is very simple – we are all creative, and creativity matters. For each of us therefore our own creativity matters and we should do everything we can to acknowledge that, and nurture it, and allow it to grow.
Poetic.
Steve
exactly.
Thank you for this timely post! My friends and I recently began a conversation on whether or not having a lot of stuff around encourages creativity. I’m looking forward to sharing this piece as a part of the dialogue.
For me, simplicity encourages creativity because it minimizes distraction.
As you elegantly note: “…the thundering happens more often than we might imagine, but we miss it, because we are too busy paying attention to the things we think matter.”
Thank you again for a lovely post.
Thanks Caroline, it really is that distraction-less time when we can really pay attention to what matters. It’s so great that we are all learning how to create a world with less clutter & distraction.
I just saw the link back to my art page. Mwa. Mwa. (kiss on each cheek)
xoxo
Love love this post. It read like a poem and a new idea formed in toto for me. Thanks Courtney.
Hi Courtney–
Enjoyed this post … my most creative ideas come when I’m hiking. There’s something about the rhythm of hiking that helps to quiet that inner critic and allows the creative spirit through. Over the years I’ve learned to keep a pen and paper handy. But recently I’ve been using a digital voice recorder. That way I don’t have to stop hiking, which helps to keep those ideas flowing.
I’m looking forward to reading future blog posts.
Cheryl,
I hiked with a friend Saturday morning and our brainstorming was on steroids. I don’t know if it’s nature, movement, or oxygen, but it really worked!
I have a hike planned with my husband tomorrow night, and am prepared for a flood of ideas!
I know what you mean. It is interesting how inspiration strikes when I least expect it – when I am deep in soil, floating in the middle of the lake or dumbfounded by the incredible view out my car window on my way home from work. Triggers that prompt action are by nature fleeting – or it seems so to me. When I am painting, the brush finds its path with ease and my mind awaits the next movement as I savor the moment. Something others might find complex, is simplicity in its basic form. I would never have believed that until I opened to it.
Courtney,
This is a beautifully written post (as always). I especially enjoyed the video led by Elizabeth Gilbert. To me her talk was not only inspiring, but it was also very “Joseph Campbell” if you are familiar with his work?
Thanks for sharing.
Amanda
I’m a painter.
I believe it’s the spirit of the ultimate creator, our God, that moves us to create beyond what we think we are capable of. We were made in His image, thus becoming creators too.