When was the last time you made an effort to be creative?
When was the last time you were creative without having to make an effort?
For myself, I create something at least three times per week at LifeExcursion. Along with the creative flow that comes with writing blog posts, I am creative with my physical workouts which stimulate the mind, body and soul at once. When not writing, working, or working out, I think of ways I can improve upon the struggles, progress and mediocrity of mankind and how future actions can balance towards the progressive side more often than not. Honestly, most of my time on this earth is spent generating new ideas and I love it. So, why don’t more people do the same?
Zombies Killed The Creative Mindset
Every day, I communicate with people that see nothing further than what they are doing. It amazes me that being so content has become such a welcome lifestyle. There are people that see themselves doing the exact same thing they have been doing for 10 years for the next 30 years. This would be awesome if they actually enjoyed what they do. However, they have fallen to the conformity of comfort and 1) hate what they do, 2) despise those they spend 40 hours per week with, and 3) refuse to accept change.
Individuals who have accepted relinquishing their creative parts of their minds seem to be zombies. They have no other purpose in life than to just survive until the next paycheck. They don’t make something of their lives outside of the 40 hours they sit at their desk. They see no future that doesn’t involve unhealthy, unnatural routine. Zombies exist because they can’t live. They wander aimlessly looking for their zombie partner in life that they will have zombie babies and teach their zombie ways to.
Unfortunately, the development of more and more zombie-cultures has created an ominous sight in many of the places I go. That is one reason, I am so jealous of Leo, Corbett and Everett who reside in San Francisco, one of the most creative places in the world and a place I used to frequent when I lived a mere hour and a half away. Zombies have yet to overtake the creative flow there, but they do exist there and could, one day unfortunately, take over the city by the bay as well.
If the zombie-like culture reflected on their actions and decisions, they may come to realize their boring lives are pointless. Does that mean that no one can or should work in an office? No, but everyone should maintain a sense of creative flow. I work in an office, yet have maintained the creative mindset.
Why are you living if you aren’t living?
We all have this short opportunity to learn, experiment and experience, yet many of us choose to mindlessly wander from bed to coffee shop to traffic to desk to traffic to fast food to TV to bed than start the cycle over again the next day. Am I perfect? Ha, definitely not. Are there times I may accidentally fall to the zombie-like culture? Sure, but I don’t let it last for more than a few hours if that long at all. I want to live, not just live.
From Spaghetti to Finger-paint to Crayon to Pen to Keyboard
There is a picture somewhere in my parent’s storage of a baby David Damron in a highchair with spaghetti covering every square inch of his upper torso, head, face, and every other part of my body from the waist up. I like to think that this was the beginning of the creative nature my life has become.
As we grow in society, we are given tools that help express our creativity. These tools, whether physical or character based, provide the ability to get the natural creative flow out of our body. Luckily, someone a long time ago, realized the importance of such. For one reason or another, I have found that there is an end to the providing of creative tools. We have stopped at the keyboard in my eyes. Our fingers could be considered a creative tool today with everything being touch enabled, but much of our creative flow has stopped at the keyboard. Most people aren’t as creative as bloggers and designers. What this means is that if the creative tools were to stop here, would you be able to develop and maintain a creative lifestyle?
Finding Your Voice
Many people ask me if writing a blog is tedious. At times, blog design and management can be tedious, but the ability to express my voice and communicate with a like minded audience is well worth the few headaches.
It comes down to finding what allows you to share your thoughts and beliefs and ideas.
Often, we let our voice be drowned out by others, busyness, laziness, and weakness. Overcoming these obstacles is not something you are alone in doing. Everyone has those barriers in their life. Some people put more effort and passion into overcoming them which leads us to you finding your voice.
Your voice can be expressed in any way you like. You just have to do it. What do you love? What are you interested in? What makes you happy? These are questions that provide answers that help you build a platform to share your voice.
It’s up to you to actually do it.
The Day You Let Your Creative Mind Die…
…is the day you die.
Sorry to present such gloominess. However, creativity is the only thing that will allow you to live. It can be as basic as creating a daily lifestyle that you enjoy. However, it must be created and not told to you.
I want you to read following and think about your approach to creativity. How it molds you? How you ignore it? Be honest with yourself and apply if necessary.
Your purpose, meaning and enjoyment throughout your life will come from the act of creating.
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I completely agree. In meetings with our Company’s CEO he consistantly drills into every manager that the people in certain levels of the Company we don’t “want them to think. We want them to be automatons.” I sit there trying to pick my jaw up from the table.
There is not much creativity in my job, which is why I try to do as much of it at home as possible. Creativity, that is. Last weekend my son and I built a catapult. Why? Because, he wanted to and what house doesn’t need a catapult?!?!?! So, yes, stay creative. It’s the essence of life.