Let me ask you a question: What makes you happy?
Have you spent time really looking into that question? Do you know what gives you joy, what makes your soul dance and your heart sing?
And here’s the bigger question: are you doing it?
Because here’s a secret:
Happiness comes from doing
I figured out some time ago that my own happiness rests on two pillars. Let’s start with…
Pillar #1: Expressing myself creatively
It seems obvious now, but I didn’t always know this.
I’ve spent years – decades – shut down from my creativity. The child in me was so stifled I almost forgot she was there.
There was a time the poor thing was so malnourished I truly believed my creativity had been permanently quashed out of me.
I struggled with fear. Resistance. The crippling belief that connecting to my creativity wasn’t important, that it was a waste of time.
And even if it wasn’t a waste of time, surely whatever I might create wouldn’t be any good anyway, so what was the use?
When I look back now, I’m amazed I ever got past all this negative self-talk!
But the drive to create is powerful.
I believe that human beings are wired to create, just as deeply as we’re wired to stay alive.
That hard-wiring drove me forward, and somehow, with a lot of stumbling and bumbling, I managed to find cracks in the blocks in my way and squeeze myself through.
I figured out that expressing myself creativity was not just frivolous; it is an essential part of my happiness.
In other words, happiness comes from doing my creative things.
When I get disconnected from my creativity, I get cranky. If I stay disconnected for long enough, I’ll get depressed.
Life feels flat. Shades of grey, instead of Technicolor.
But as long as I stay connected, as long as I do my creative things – even if that means just dangling a toe in the stream of my creativity – I’m alive. Joyful.
And when I’m connected at my best, I’m on fire!
Think Dorothy in Oz, instead of black & white Kansas.
As I said, though, my happiness rests on two pillars, not just one. Let’s look at…
Pillar #2: Inspiring YOU to create
In addition to my deep need to create, I have a deep need to make a difference.
I have a dream of a world where everyone is in touch with their own creative muse. Where everyone is creating, everyone playing in the Creative Sandbox.
Can you imagine such a world?
I don’t care whether you paint, or dance, or sing, or write, or build atomic models out of Legos.
Whatever is calling to you, I want to see you doing it.
Nutty once called me an Inspirationalist, and it tickled me no end. YES! That’s exactly what I want to be. What I am.
When I get an email or a tweet from a client or reader telling me how much I’ve inspired them, the wattage of my smile could light up San Francisco.
I want to inspire you. I want to use what I’ve learned about getting past my own blocks to help you get past the blocks in your way.
Even the art I’m making in my Creative Sandbox time is all about inspiration.
I want to get you creating!
In fact, I’m working right now on brewing up something to do just that.
I’ve spent the past two weeks immersed in Action Studio, figuring out what my business is all about, and what I want to share with the world.
I’ve figured out that I’m a Creator, first and foremost (not a big surprise), and that getting you creating too is how I most want to change the world.
And here’s where I could use your help.
In order to help get you past your blocks, I want to know what those blocks are.
Where do you get stuck?
What gets in between you and doing your creative thing?
What thoughts or “voices” keep you from creating?
What fears get in your way?
I’m genuinely curious, so please share in the comments below. There are no wrong answers. I truly want to make something that will get you creating, and the more you’re able to share, the more you’ll help me do that.
Watch this space for more info on what I’m brewing up… (And if you want first dibs when the new thing is ready, sign up below to get on my advance list.)
And if this post has inspired you already, go get creating!
