6 Benefits of Developing Creativity

You’ll find loads of blogs, pins, posts and infographics about how to keep your creativity on a roll. Just one short search in the internet sea, and you’ll haul in a huge catch.

So, why? Why are we so interested in creativity?

Is it really that important that we develop creativity?

I say, YES!! And have done for many years now. As adults we benefit immensely from using our creativity, and kids need to use theirs, too. All too easily, creativity is dampened by the way we experience childhood. Having to colour within the lines, instructions that the ‘sky must be blue and the trees green’, and hearing ‘this is the way it should be done’…. while these have their place, they can impact (squash!) our creativity. There are benefits to developing our creativity, not just for adults, but for fostering that innate, born-with creativity children have.

CONNECT WITH GOD

All of us are creative. We are created in the image of a Creator God, so this shouldn’t surprise us. And that is one of the greatest benefits of developing creativity! When we use our creativity, we connect with God. I recall hearing an interview with a ‘creative’ years ago (have no idea now who it was – a writer or musician or such), and I was amazed that they openly said their most profound creative moments, came from ‘something’ outside of themselves. And when that creativity is good and pure and true, it is our expression of what God whispers in our hearts. Perhaps, we also reflect God’s character when we use our creativity? I love the way Max Lucado puts it - ‘In fact, we are much like God when we dream.’

FIND YOUR VOICE

The ability to express ourselves, to communicate our thoughts, feelings and ideas, is a basic need for everyone. Using our creativity gives us a broader canvas on which to paint our voice – we might express with language, music, art, handcrafts, photography, play-dough sculptures, tree-house building … (the list goes on – you get the idea!) In expressing ourselves, we start to find out who we really are and share ourselves with the world (and the world is all the more richer for it!).

HANG ON TO CHILDHOOD

Being creative gives permission for the freedom of your inner child. My mother, for many years, has spoken (and practiced well!), about letting out your inner child. It allows you to dance in the rain, giggle over bubbles, and snuggle a teddy bear. And when it comes to creativity, it allows your inner child to come out and be curious about the possibilities, to make a bolder stroke with your brush, to play with new materials and enjoy it for ‘plays sake’.

STEP INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES

Looking at the world with a creative mindset helps us to see things in a different way – we can see things from a different perspective. We see possibilities, the ‘what might be’s’ and the brighter futures. Not only that, but you can imagine what it might be like to step into someone else’s shoes. We develop empathy and compassion for others because we can imagine what life might be like for someone else.

GROW COURAGE AND BE BRAVE IN OUR 'UNSUCCESS'

It takes courage to express yourself creatively. You open up the vulnerable parts of your soul, and it can be risky exposing that to the world around you. Using our creativity gives opportunities for rehearsing, developing and strengthening bravery. Not all creative expressions turn out the way we plan. All too often we see our creative endeavours as failures (eg when they don’t live up to what we dreamed they would be like). And so we learn to deal with what we perceive as unsuccess – we grow strategies for bouncing back, coping with constructive criticism or even knowing when to quit and start over again!

FIND YOURSELF

You are unique! If you were to not use your creativity, the world would miss out on the beautiful way you create, make things new, or bring art, life, love and self-expression into this world! Expressing our creativity develops our unique qualities, so we are not all the same. God loves variety and He created us all unique.

You were made to be creative. Go on … grow, free your soul, add your unique ‘colour’ to the world and make it a better place.

PS - I realise this probably seems out of place at this stage! For two months now, I’ve decided to be more serious about our blog and facebook. I’ve started on a number of articles and themes, and not done anything with it. They’re on the back shelf now! This is a topic dear to my heart. It’s my hope that all young girls realise their creative potential (and are ‘proud’ of it, too!). It’s one of the reasons we include in our magazine, ways to use creativity and imagination!