Coaxing the Creativity out of our Genuine Selves.

As beings raised in today’s artificial society of perfection, we are taught from the youngest of ages who to be, how to act, what to achieve, and what to want. We do our best to adapt to the demands of busy lifestyles and adopt roles to fulfill those challenging parts.

Our parents, family life, influences of heritage, and expectations of society determine the initial extent of restriction of our genuine selves. Cultures with stricter societal expectations breed a rigid being with cultivated skill sets that rob the individual of sense of self, of identity. Other factors during adolescence determine how much each person is allowed to express or repress his or her inherent creativity, influencing the individual throughout life.

As the oldest child of a strictly Catholic Filipino – my mom being the youngest of eight children herself and raised in a very strict household – I came from a childhood of expected straight A-academics and enough extra-curricular activities to fill an entire family’s college applications.

I remember walking through a department store and declaring out loud my adoration for a particular item of clothing. My mom’s immediate reaction was, and without even blinking, “No.” As in wrong. Your opinion is wrong.

Her well-intentioned desire to create lives of absolute perfection for my siblings and me manifested into an urge to control not only our every action, but our thoughts and opinions.

Even as a child I don’t recall engaging in imaginative play or enjoying creative playtime with others. I was not comfortable making choices of my own. Role-playing or any play requiring use of my imagination gave even my adolescent-self anxiety – what were the right answers? The proper things to say? The correct way to act?

I didn’t know how to be creative.

The only creative memories I have at all from my childhood seem to be writing short stories and fiction. Not that I wrote large amounts, but in school I remember the storylines and characters coming so easily to me at times, in contrast with the giant block upon which many of us adult writers all seem to stumble into, at full speed, head first.

My biggest hurdle has been learning myself – what do I like to do? What brings me pleasure? What do I not only excel at but do I fiercely enjoy?

I am to this day struggling to determine my identity.

Recovering from a restrictive childhood, after so many years of being taught the right answers and the correct way to act, creativity hasn’t come back into my life easily.

Coaxing that creativity back out from deep within me where it’s been stashed away since my youth has been a process. Creating trust and gaining the courage to discover and express my genuine self has been a daily progression, learning to trust myself, my own decisions, and my decision-making capabilities.

There are steps I take daily, and that each of us can take daily, that help connect each of us with our true selves, to allow us to create with confidence.

Meditate – This doesn’t have to be your typical, sitting, eyes-closed meditation practice; your daily meditation can consist of a walk in nature, cleaning while jamming out to some inspiring tunes, or sitting for ten minutes each morning with a cup of coffee. However you need, take time to slow your thoughts, clear your mind, and connect with your own self. Become present in the moment.

Morning Rituals – Starting each day the same way – mindfully, gratefully, intentionally. Cultivate morning habits and routines that produce happy, productive days.

Form creativity habits – As a writer, I try to develop daily writing habits to signal to my body when it is time to write. Writing each day at the same time, in consistent spots, surrounded by your usual writing cues will signify to your body that it is time to write. Conversely, when stumbling upon that familiar block known to even the best writers, switch up your routines. Write in a new location, use a new writing journal, write in the middle of the night instead of your usual morning hour.

Follow your heart –As cliché as it sounds, do what you love. Start there. Find what ignites your soul and keep that flame burning. You can’t help but spread your own love and creativity with others when it comes from that true, genuine place deep inside.

Love yourself! – The confidence to create and share those creations with others comes from knowing and loving yourself. Love yourself and create with confidence!

It is once we are truly comfortable with and love and accept our genuine selves that we are able to confidently shine that creative light out into the world, sharing each of our gifts. To release that creative spark inside us beyond ourselves, ultimately, hopefully, to ignite a flame of creativity within someone else.

Christina MacDonald, Elephant Academy Apprentice

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