Wake Me Up: Morning Positivity - Morning Motivation for Creativity | Inspire Your Creative Potential

Episode Date: October 26, 2022

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If you'd like to enjoy Wake Me Up completely ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content, check out the link in the show notes for the Wake Me Up Premium Feed. Hey there, and welcome to Wake Me Up. I'm so glad to have you here today because we're talking about one of my favorite topics this week. Creativity. You see, creativity is an important part of our lives, but many of us don't feel that we have the time or energy to express ourselves creatively in the way that we'd hope.

Or we may feel stuck and uninspired when we're trying to complete a project, whether it's for work or for pleasure. The truth is, self-doubt is often the most common thing holding us back from being creative. It's natural to have some days that lack inspiration and focus, but there are some worthwhile habits we can adopt to spark inspiration and creativity anytime.

Today's episode will inspire you to let go of self-doubt and tap into your creative side. But before we dive in, just pause for one moment. Allow yourself a second of quiet and relaxation. Soften your face and your shoulders and let go of any tension that you're holding on to. And just try to visualize yourself as a little kid, maybe five or six years old. What do you look like? Your hair, your eyes, your hands, what are you wearing?

Imagine yourself sitting and playing with the toys that you remember enjoying the most. What did it feel like as five-year-old you to use your imagination, to play and create without boundaries? Were you making judgments? Were you worried about mistakes? There's something really freeing in that childhood approach. So try to embody that younger version of yourself. Feel the freedom of imagination and play without worrying about the results. Take a deep breath in and fill up with that childish sense of fun.

And on your exhale, let go of any expectations, worries, or judgments you might have about things you create. Once more, inhale and release. Great. Now, feel free to go about your morning routine, making your coffee or going for a walk, whatever you like to do. And while you do that,

let's dive deeper into the idea of creativity. Creativity is the stuff of life. It's what fuels our world and moves us forward as a species. Improvements in technology and medicine have allowed us to extend the average lifetime by 26 years in just one century. It's how we've built sprawling cities and gone to outer space. You see, as humans, creativity gives us purpose. Without it, we wouldn't have books, movies, and shows to entertain us. We wouldn't look at a piece of art full of wonder and awe about the capability.

of the human mind. But you don't have to invent groundbreaking technology or produce an award-winning movie to be creative. In fact, you can just do a little jig right now, and voila, you've created your own unique movement. You see, to be creative, you just have to believe in yourself, let go of any worries or judgments, and have a little fun. Everyone has an artist within them.

We just need to give ourselves a little bit of space to simply be who we are. Prioritizing mindfulness can help with this because it helps us to simplify our thoughts and experience a sense of flow and connection within ourselves and with the world around us. Have you ever noticed that when you're in the shower, you often have some really good ideas? Or you suddenly remember something you have to do that you'd forgotten about it. I find it funny, but also so fitting that there is an entire Reddit thread dedicated to shower thoughts, and there's some pretty great stuff in there. And the reason shower thoughts are even a thing is because when we're not actively doing

something to occupy our minds, our imagination has a chance to run free. Our brains have a chance to think clearly, without obstruction. So if we want to be more creative, we need to give ourselves this little bit of space. There's a 2012 study about backpackers that's actually really informative on this topic. The study found that these backpackers had higher levels of creativity after four days of backpacking compared to before. Personally, I don't need a study to believe in the healing powers of nature. When I spend a few days outside, I notice a profound shift in myself. I feel more peaceful and energized.

So to get your creative juices flowing, spend some time outside on a daily basis. Take a break from technology, just to live and breathe. Try exercising in a way that makes you feel like you're having fun. Read books that interest you, and listen to inspirational talks, just like you're doing now. When creativity is sparked,

and we're in the flow of an activity that we love, life just feels sweeter. Flow happens when we're totally immersed in an action that's invigorating to our senses. We can experience flow when we're doing anything, cooking, gardening, jogging, writing, or exploring, just to name a few. But the options are endless.

What we can't do is experience flow if we don't believe in ourselves and our abilities in the first place. Albert Einstein spent nine years applying to be a professor before he got accepted. Despite countless rejection letters, he never gave up on himself. So just like Einstein, continue to learn, grow, and express yourself, regardless of the circumstances you're facing and any setbacks, in your way. You are the director and creator of your own life. You have the choice every day to go out and do the things that make you feel full and put you in a state of flow. You even have the ability to change the world and inspire others if you set your mind to it. You may not realize

it, but many of the things you already do are inherently creative. The words you make up, The games you play with your friends or your kids, the do-it-yourself projects. All of these things are creative endeavors. And once you start viewing them that way, you can use them as an access point to unleash your creative powers. Creativity isn't something you need to go find. It's already within you, and it's just waiting for you to uncover it. So when you get stuck and you don't feel creative,

Know that you have the tools to revive your creative spirit. You can cultivate healthy habits that help bring out your creative side. And the good news is that these habits are readily available and totally free. So create some time and some space just to allow yourself the freedom of mind to be creative. And after that, release yourself doubts. As Sylvia Plath put it, the worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. If we don't think we're capable, then we won't give something a full try. And if we don't give it a real try, then we're never going to experience our true potential.

So never doubt yourself. Believe that you are capable of anything you set your mind to. The only thing getting in the way is you. and don't limit yourself only to the things that you think you can do. Instead, try new things, even if you're not going to be a savant at them. Be willing to be a beginner, to stumble, to mess up, and try again. That's what the kid version of you did, and that's what made you grow into who you are now. Lastly, don't compare yourself to other people.

There will always be someone better, and that's a good. okay, because there are other ways that you can make up for it. After all, comparison is the killer of joy. So let go of the need to be anyone but yourself. Because the creative things that we all connect with are made by people who are just putting their own ideas out there without worrying about being judged or better than everyone else. They are being uniquely themselves and finding joy doing it. That's why you love your favorite song, piece of art, or story. So go out into the world and be the unique, creative, inspiring human that you already are. Friends, this is your life. You can do and create anything you want. I mean, how wonderful is that? What an opportunity.

Well, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed this week's episodes and I hope you're feeling inspired to go be yourself and be creative. I'll talk to you soon and until then, go out and have a fantastic day.