Your Creativity in 2024

When you think the word CREATIVITY, what thought comes to mind first?

The first thing I hear in my head is the word “fluffy.” A second is “made up stuff.” On the surface, creativity does not usually hold a high place of importance for everyday life, but maybe, “there’s a little bit more” to it for 2024. 

Last November’s Sole to Soul workshop explored the concepts of color and creativity with movie-muses Barbie and Frida. I learn a lot when leading these sessions. I learn from my research, of course, but just as much from the fabulously wise participants who always add their insights, opinions and life experiences. 

When thinking about creativity, most of us think only about visual artists, like Frida Kahlo, Mexico’s most famous female artist. Frida began to paint during times when she was in pain while being confined to her bed; she spent weeks and months alone. Three of her quotes hint at the importance of her art/creativity: 

“I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality.” 

“I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint.” 

“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone because I am the person I know best.”

Her creativity was twofold: first of all, she created art; and the art was an organic medicine for her mind and spirit. Even though she’s been gone for decades, stories of her approach to life have inspired others to persevere in the face of adversity. So in a way, INSPIRING OTHERS can be counted as a third type of creativity: Creating Inspiration.  

If you don’t draw or paint, you might think you aren’t creative. But visual art is only one way to express creativity. Creativity is like the air that invisibly surrounds us each moment of the day. If you’re like me, you don’t think about it much.

I think that creativity is one of the most useful tools we have to get things done.

Creativity can be used to:    

• Turn around your attitude
• Solve a problem
• Give solutions when what you want is not available
• Fix something that’s broken
• Give encouragement to someone else
• Fundraise for a cause
• Give someone hope for tomorrow
• Market your business
• Attract people to join your group or club
• Bring joy back to your life
• Motivate you to reach your goals

January is the best time to be creative, because it can be the happiest, saddest, loneliest, most gracious, grief-filled time of year—all at once. That’s a lot of emotions to feel.

PS. At the end of the Barbie movie, Barbie makes the decision to leave Barbie Land and become a real person. She has a desire to CREATE, not just be the creation. And that’s when Billie Eilish sings “What was I Made For?”  If a doll feels this need, how about the rest of humanity?

How will you use your gift of CREATIVITY to energize each step of 2024?