‘Creativity to Unleash your Spirit’

According to creativity consultant Edward deBono (2007:1), everyone wants to be creative. DeBono asserts that creativity is the key skill needed for achievement, and that creativity can be learned, developed and applied. I suggest that every human is born creative, in their own individual way. Our imperfect human nature perfectly ensures our species creativity!

Humans make mistakes, and these mistakes often provide us with a serendipitous spark that ignites something different, something novel, something unexpected. How boring life would be if every human was exactly the same, and we all churned out Mona-Lisa portraits at every sitting! Instead, we have genetic human error designed into us to produce infinite variations of natural creativity. For example, try writing your name 5 times striving to get each inscription exactly the same. I would hypothesise that this is impossible for a human, as there will always be some microscopic variation. Yet such imperfection is so perfect! The point is that whilst everyone may yearn to be creative, you must realise that we all already ARE creative. Your challenge is merely to apply your creativity (and refine your skill) to unleash your spirit! This article (and deBonos philosophes) aims to assist you in that quest.

Now, the words ‘unleashing your spirit’ may seem quite esoteric and abstract, however consider how often the creative endeavours of our ancestors are upheld as examples of their spirit unleashed. Examples include the Pyramids, Taj Mahal, paintings on Church ceilings, Shakesphere’s plays, Mozart’s symphonies, and Ground-breaking scientific insights. There are many shining examples of human spirit unleashed, with each being their own master-piece of creativity. The mandala is an artwork developed within a circular border, promoted by Carl Jung, who considered that the mandala "corresponds to the microcosmic nature of the psyche" (Jung 1965:196). Whether you choose to create circular mandalas or whether you write a novel, I suggest it is the very action of expressing your creative nature that will provide you with your insights into your unleashed spirit.

Compared to the great creations mentioned above, our individual efforts may not seem so accomplished or outstanding. I have heard so many clients wistfully muse "Oh, I am not creative", or "I’m no good at that". How disappointing that someone, somewhere in their past lives has implanted them with such a limiting belief. Sure, most creativity efforts may appear pale in comparison to the great works. However, comparison to an icon is not our objective. Your spiritual growth is our objective. And what you individually create is as perfect to your spiritual enlightenment as those inspiring examples of the great historical masters was to theirs. Your creation is perfect for your spirit, at this time. To pre-judge your creations as unworthy is harsh, as your opinion is based on your presumptive perception. Someone else may consider your creation magnificent! To negatively premeditate is to manifest an unworthy creation, unconsciously creating the undesired as your conscious reality. Such confinement is not recommended as the best path to unleash your spirit. Therefore, the first step to enable creativity to unleash your spirit is to remain open to the possibility of your perfect creation. From a place of pure freedom, you will abundantly create what is perfectly ‘you’.

The second step to creativity unleashing your spirit is to not feel pressured into any performance targets. Your goal is not to create a production that millions of people will applaud for centuries. Your goal is just to embrace the imperfect nature of your human spirit, and let your creative energy flow. I give explicit permission to all my clients that they don’t even have to share their creation with anyone if they choose not too. You can even burn it or bury it if that feels right for you. There are absolutely no rules with creativity, in fact, creativity is often about breaking any perceived rules, and pushing outside the box to create a new and novel dimension. Creativity is your individual expression, and like the diaries of Anne Frank or others, can be intended only as your private unleashing of your inner spirit. How you choose to share your creations is your, and only your, personal choice. Therefore, put no pressure on your performance.

Energy must crystallise in time and space to form matter, and so your creative energy must be granted the resources of time and space for your spirit to be unleashed into physical form. It is impossible to create without actually getting around to creating! This step then is to schedule in some time to be creative. Depending on your preference, this may be a set time /date, or it may be a new flexibility to slide non-urgent appointments so when you do suddenly feel ‘in the creative mood’ you have freedom to follow your urge. Also, you may consider choosing a creative place, however as with meditation, some people may prefer a regular familiarity whilst others prefer to spontaneously do it anywhere, anytime they feel the need. By providing yourself the time and space to be creative, your spirit is suddenly unleashed beyond your usual self-imposed restrictions. This allocation of time and space for creative pursuits is an essential element in this practice to unleash your spirit.

It is advisable to be prepared for your creative time by investing in the materials you will need prior, and purchasing some colours in your preferred medium (paint / chalk / crayon etc, on canvas / paper / clay, etc). Again, there are no rules to what mediums you use to crystallise your creative energies, and be encouraged to experiment with any creative medium your spirit is attracted to no matter how strange it may appear to your logic side. I have seen people be creative by baking cakes, making clothing, jewellery, or witty T-Shirt slogans. Just go and try whatever turns you on. With time and space to experiment, you will discover what mediums best unleash your individual spirit.

And so you now go off and create, flowing in the freedom of the creative moments that you have granted yourself. Accept that the result is something that has been perfectly unleashed by your spirit at that time. Be aware that there are libraries full of psycho-analysis methods based on Freud and Jung, and you are surrounded by a myriad of art movements that critics can compare your work to, however don’t despair. As stated in step 1, your aim is merely to unleash your spirit, and any comparison to historical works by creative masters must remain purely academic. In essence, your manifesto is ‘creations that unleash YOUR spirit’, so let yourself move swiftly on to experiencing that outcome without concern about anyone else’s judgemental analytical assessments.

The final step is to Practice, practice, and practice. As it takes practice to be able to eloquently express your thoughts in a foreign language, so it will take practice to openly express your spirit in a creative medium. Your efforts may feel clumsy and confused at first, yet accept this as perhaps your most important work. Every Olympic 100m sprinter once had to learn to walk, yet their first steps were absolutely essential to their development. Choose creative mediums that keep your practice enjoyable, so you are motivated to keep investing energy, time and space into your creative pursuits. Your spiritual journey of 1000 steps must begin with step 1, and whilst some may gaze in admiration at what you have created at your final steps, it will be those creative steps of your journey that bear witness to your magnificent spiritual unleashing. Because of this, feel free to personally honour your spiritual creations, like a grandmother who frames the scribbling of their first grandchild. This is YOUR creative journey, to unleash YOUR spirit. Enjoy every moment along that journey!

This article briefly provides you with 6 steps to unleashing your spirit through creativity. Recapping:

Step 1. Remain open to the possibility that your creativity is the perfect expression of YOUR spirit.

Step 2. Give yourself permission to be creative without any pressure to perform.

Step 3. Create the time and space for your creative energy to materialise.

Step 4. Prepare your creative materials in advance.

Step 5. Accept your creations, and remain immune to critical analysis

Step 6. Enjoy and honour your creative practice

Each step is important, yet the most vital is probably step 6. Your continued investment of time, space and materials to actually physically materialise your creativity is the only way to unleash your creative spirit. Without this step, your creative spirit remains locked inside the constraints you impose on yourself. Step 6 forms the continual refinement of your creative skills that Edward deBono is so passionate about assisting us all with. As stated in step 4, it doesn’t matter what medium you choose to be creative in. And it really doesn’t matter where you unleash your creative spirit - it can be unleashed in the art studio, the kitchen, the bedroom, or the boardroom. Your creativity will continue to unleash your spirit, from the very moment you start to express it! Enjoy your journey!

References
deBono E, 2007. ‘How to have creative ideas’ Australia, Random House.
Jung, C.G. 1965. ‘Memories, Dreams, Reflections’ New York: Random House.

For more information, please contact Karl Matthews (Change Consultant, MBTI-E Psychotherapist, MBA, B.Eng.) via Reception@CBDConsultancy.com