Unlock Your Creative Potential

2/22/05

unlock your creative potential

Shifra Stein

The creative journey requires only that you have an open mind. You don’t need to know “how” to draw, paint, or write, nor do you have to know exactly what to do, or how to do it. You begin by being positive about the next step and you take action by getting ready. Here’s how to start:

1. Get your supplies:

Some white construction or drawing paper

A box of crayons or magic markers

Some pencils

A pen for writing

Practice creativity by starting with the following exercises:

Midway down a sheet of paper, print your name in big block letters.

Circle your name.

Then take your crayons or markers and draw five symbols that describe you. Use no words. Symbols can be things that are most important to you. The sun, your garden, flowers, or travel can all be expressed in symbols. For example, you can draw the shape of a car or plane to represent the symbol of travel. A travel destination might be symbolized by sketching palm trees, an island, or water. You don’t have to be a Picasso. Just do what you can. This is not the time to tell yourself, “I can’t draw,” “I can’t write,” etc. Who cares? Just have fun with this. Draw your symbols quickly and don’t stop to think about what you left out.

Keep a monthly symbol sheet in a spiral notebook and repeat the symbol exercise every month or so, observing the changes. Understand that your symbols for today may not be the same next month.

Before you begin the next exercise, read the following into a tape recorder, then play it back and listen to the sound of your own words giving you this message:

Close your eyes. Take deep breaths in and out and feel yourself relaxing. Envision yourself as being very happy. See yourself surrounded by everything you want. Ask yourself:

What am I wearing?

How am I acting?

Where am I going?

What am I surrounded with?

Who is close to me?

What am I feeling?

What have I taken with me?

What have I left behind?

Open your eyes. Take a sheet of paper, and describe what you saw in this visualization. How did you feel? How did you look? What did it take for you to be happy?
Take crayons or magic markers and draw pictures of how you envisioned yourself being happy. You don’t have to be a great artist to do this exercise. This is a picture of your feelings and your life, drawn by you and for you.

Each day, promise yourself to take more creative time for yourself. Go to a bookstore and ask to see books on creativity, art, writing, journaling, or anything that you feel will jump-start your imagination. Keep your mind active with creativity exercises and you’ll find that you will feel better—and be happier.

Shifra Stein is a workshop presenter who leads creativity classes and artist/writer workshops. Visit her Web site, www.artforhealth.us, or contact her at shifra@artforhealth.us. She is author of a book titled, Unlocking the Power Within: Journaling for Personal and Professional Growth.

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