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to live a creative life
Before my research on wholeheartedness (and before the 2007 breakdown spiritual awakening), I was completely disconnected from my creativity. My disconnection took the form of judgment, resentment, and fear:
"A-R-T - how nice. I have a J-O-B - I'm doing real work."
"I'm not the creative type."
"Spending time creating is self-indulgent."
Behind all of these emotions was disconnection. I had the creativity scars that many of us have; the ones that come from not being able to draw a still life in middle school and being told that I better stick with writing and reading.
Today, I'm reconnected with my creativity and it's transforming every part of my life. Creativity brings me joy, helps me stay more grateful, calms me down, and inspires me. It helps me keep my perfectionism in check and has become a powerful way to connect with my family.
In The Gifts of Imperfection, I summarize what I learned from the world of Wholehearted living and loving:
1. “I’m not very creative” doesn’t work. There’s no such thing as creative people and non-creative people. There are only people who use their creativity and people who don’t. Unused creativity doesn’t just disappear. It lives within us until it’s expressed, neglected to death, or suffocated by resentment and fear.
2. The only unique contribution that we will ever make in this world will be born of our creativity.
3. If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, sculpt, dance, decorate, act, sing—it doesn’t matter. As long as we’re creating, we’re cultivating meaning.
I'm so grateful for what I've learned and for all of you who are creating and sharing your work with the world.
I'm celebrating creativity today with a giveway of this great poster by Amanda Cherie.
Just leave your name in the comment section and I'll pick a winner on Thursday!
Brené Brown
Congrats to Arliss! You won the poster!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Reader Comments (504)
-Rebecca Stone
2. I'm learning that for me, creativity is an expression of or extension of my natural curiosity. Stifling of either one makes me an unhappy person; for me they travel together, and they are VERY important to my wholeness.
I often see the term "creatives" used as if some of us are creative and some are not. I love how you point out we are all creative. I believe this deep in my soul and know that we are the most empowered when we recognize and honor our creativity.
adds a bit of sunshine to my day!
Brandi George
My marriagae and self esteem was in ruin a year ago. I had given away too much of myself in my marriage and in parenthood. I was desperate for change. The only thing I could think of doing was finally doing something that I loved to do FOR ME. I started to paint again. Then I started a blog about what it was like to finally do what I love to do, called The Dao of Doing.
I truly believe that in finding my creativity I found myself again.
I would LOVE this poster.
Thanks for all your work! It's helped me a LOT!
Kel Wilson
I am beginning to understand from a felt sense just how much our connection to the Divine is expressed in our creativity. Sweet!
This was a great reminder. Thank you, Brene!
~advancing in the direction of my dreams
{muting the voice of Wrong, as needed}
Katie Vincent
I appreciate your message!
i recently decided to leave the corporate world and return to a place that fulfills my creative soul. this quote is a wonderful reminder of how my decisions have not been made in vain.
Here's to living it whole-heartedly...
Melanie Rollins
Tania S.
cathi boerio
I'm in the process of rediscovering my creativity and redefining my definition of "real work". For anyone else on the same path, I truly recommend The Artist's way by Julia Cameron. I haven't read you book yet, but based on how well you write here, I will!