More Creative Discovering Images

I hope you have had the chance to look through all of the posts this month about Creative Discovering. If not, take some time to check it out. Get an idea of the variety of approaches. These are just a few. Here are a few more.

Creative Discovering Out of Sorts

This image was created by a Creative Discovering participant who described themselves as feeling small and tranquil, but at the same time bursting with and attacked with anger and rage. The participant shared that the exercise helped them to see how out of balance they had gotten and take more action to come back into alignment.

Journal prompt:

If you feel "out of sorts" what image would you create to represent that?

After you have drawn and observed that image and process, what image would you create to represent yourself in alignment or in balance?

Abstract or Realistic

Sometimes when you work in your creative journal you might want to use realistic, recognizable images. Other times you may wish to use totally abstract ideas. In some of my Creative Discovering workshops I will suggest specifically one or the other to aid in uncovering a block, or change the experience a little.

As you work on your own I encourage you to do both. Try both on the same prompt and see what comes out for you. Ask yourself not only questions like, "Which one do I like better," but also, "What do I get from one that is different than the other?"

Journal prompt:

What is your greatest strength and weakness?

This prompt can be tricky for people. If you find it challenging, or you just want to try another approach, you might try stream of consciousness writing for 5 or 10 minutes. Set a time and commit to writing until the full time has lapsed. Then pick up your creative journal and start creating images. Don't think too much, just draw!

Introduction to Creative Discovering

If you enjoy traditional journalling or would like to re-ignite the natural creativity you had as a child, you might like to try what I call Creative Discovering. A great way to get started is creative journalling which is a technique in which you journal as you normally would except instead of writing you draw and use images. Even in this most basic form of Creative Discovering you will find it has a slightly different flavor than regular journalling, and as a result you are likely to have a different experience.

I have included two images from past Creative Discovering workshops to illustrate that there are as many ways to use creative journalling as there are people who do it. In one on the left, the assignment was to create an image which represents how you are feeling right now. Crayola and white paper were used in this exercise. In the other, the participant has used collage to do a self portrait.

Any medium works for creative journalling. I suggest you start with something simple like crayons or crayola markers. These are inexpensive and tend to be less daunting for some people. Remember the idea is to just start drawing. Let go of judging yourself or limiting beliefs such as "I can't draw." This is not a contest.

To get the ball rolling you could trying scrolling down through any of the journalling prompts in this blog, or simply go with what feels fun.

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Who You Were IS Who You Are

On March 16th I posted about Self Esteem, and as a result I got several great comments, and ideas. Eddie Jones, award winning Phoenix, AZ architect sent a great re-minder in his comment.

Eddie wrote, "If only adults would remember how fearless and creative they were in kindergarten. Everyone was a great artist with crayons, finger paints and dance." I agree. It is so true. We were born without the fear to create, express, and succeed.

Somewhere along the way we were "taught" to have fear. I'm not saying someone thought, "Now, I am going to teach my child or student to have fear of success." No. More than likely it was inadvertently modeled to us in a number of ways, from a number of well meaning people who weren't even totally aware of what they were doing or how great the impact of their words would be.

Eddie suggested I re-mind you of your "lost gifts and the nobility of returning to childlike ways even if (you) fingerpaint in private." I couldn't agree more. In fact, I would advocate that you find time to finger paint, and color and dance. If you can't bring yourself to do it with others (which is great fun) then by all means do it in private. The important thing is to get back to the part of you that wasn't afraid to just do it. That part of you is still in there somewhere. Who you were is who you ARE. Just purchasing a box of crayons, fingerpaints or a tutu might be enough to get you rolling.

If you need a little nudge or you just want to "play with friends," you might consider my upcoming Creative Discovering workshop in May of this year, which uses this concept to help you get in touch with the creativity that is innate within all of us. Stay tuned to this blog for date and location of this workshop.

And, as Judy re-minded us in my post on March 24th, do this with the children in your lives. Many of them are still fearless. If so, grab a box of crayons and learn from them. If they have already lost their fearlessness then grab a box of crayons and re-experience your fearlessness together. Even if they have lost it, they are closer to it than we are, and they are incredible teachers!

Today's journal prompt:

Put down the pen or pencil and grab some crayons or those cool smelly markers and draw in your journal today. Even better - put away the journal, too and grab a big piece of plain white paper and let loose!