The Art of Creative Living: A Personal Journal
It’s often said that true creativity isn't confined to a canvas or a keyboard; it’s a philosophy for how we approach every single moment of our lives. This past week, I’ve been reflecting on this idea, prompted by an intriguing list titled, "The List of the Art of Creative Living". It posits that a fulfilling existence is something we actively shape with intention and presence, much like an artist working on a piece. To live creatively, then, is to choose engagement over autopilot. It’s a holistic blueprint for crafting a life well-lived, grounded in both compassion and courage.
The Principles: My Reflections
I’ve grouped the principles of Creative Living into three core areas to help integrate them into my own thinking and practice:
The Practice of Connection: The first set of principles focuses on how we interact with the world around us. Empathy is in the foundations. It’s about feeling the interconnectedness with others and our world. It’s where my awareness broadens and my actions become more informed. Active Listening follows; I recently realised sometimes I mindlessly listen to a reply after asking a question to a person which I haven’t been fully present for. The challenge here is to truly engage with what is being communicated, especially when confronting different opinions, seeing it as an act of respectful curiosity.
Keeping a sense of Curiosity about the world and those in it is key to preventing stagnation and limiting your potential. When I approach people and situations with genuine curiosity, I stop judging and start learning.
We won’t all think the same way but we can listen and understand why people think differently. I also truly believe that through people we can also trigger inspiration for a project or to innovate an idea we wouldn’t have normally thought of in our own company.
Cultivating Inner Strength: Building the emotional resilience necessary for authentic living is probably a practice that lacks consistency, as any creative will understand that we don’t work to a schedule or time table we work when we feel inspired or have a creative flow. Vulnerability is the ultimate balancing act. Being open and authentic requires immense courage, but it only works if that openness is simultaneously protected by fierce boundaries. It’s about being seen, not being exposed. Self-Awareness is vital for growth, and the practice includes humour—it eases the tension of self-assessment and keeps things in perspective.
Courage isn't just for starting big projects; it’s for living authentically day-to-day. And that courage must always be tempered with compassion, especially when I make mistakes.
Nourishment and Engagement: The final set concerns how I sustain myself and engage with community. I truly believe the type of people we choose surround ourself with impacts our mental health and how we are outwardly perceived by others. Choosing quality of characters over quantity. This is intrinsic to nourishment to the mind and creating boundaries….
Nourishment: Mind / Body is essential fuel. It requires treating both my cognitive and physical health with gentleness and care, rejecting the aggressive, punishing narrative of self-care often seen online, again it is about balance, we need to combat negative energy and low moods by getting our heart rate up in a form of exercise but we also need time to rest and reset and some activities can allow us to truly connect with ourselves to be able to do that. People can also play a part in what kind of ‘nourishment’ they give you mentally.
I also set clear Boundaries which I find are a powerful declaration of self-respect; establishing clear personal and professional limits is a form of self-love, protecting the space I need to live creatively.
I also create limits for my social circles, sometimes judgement is necessary and when trust and loyalties are tested too many times there is no going back or second chances. Protecting your inner circle to avoid unwarranted drama is hugely important for me. This is harder to do however with immediate family members. Coming from a large close-knit family who in their own way can be subconsciously toxic are harder to create boundaries with when there is certain family expectations and dynamics. These relationships need to managed with sensitivity and emotional intelligence.
A truly radical principle is Rest—I need to internalise that time for genuine rest it is not a luxury, but a necessity for resetting, detoxing and rewiring. I often just need timeout in front of the telly like a zombie but if I create a mindful space, quiet zen time with no distractions is like refuge for me. It could be sitting in a hot bath with candles and sound frequencies or carving out time in the steam/sauna at the gym before I go for a full body exfoliating ritual. This ultimately means spending time in my own company with no outside interference.
As I contradict myself an Open Mind and Heart is a commitment to approach life without prejudgement, extending this generosity in initial stages toward yourself and others. I have learnt that not everyone who crosses your path will carry emotional intelligence therefore they may not be able to connect with you in a meaningful manner, but being able to adjust slightly to leave the person feeling at ease around your company is an ability and a talent in itself that only a few are capable of. I have also learnt that not everyone translates loyalty and trust in the same way and that is ok too! As a hardcore Aquarian we are known to be loyal to the core and fight for the people we love to the end. But in the same breath if this kind of loyalty isn’t reciprocated by our loved ones, we can erase them from our orbit faster than a cremation and never look back.
Finally, fostering a Collaborative Spirit reminds me that creative living isn't always a solitary pursuit; we grow together and we rise together. I love my own company but I also love inspiring others!
