Well-being: liberate your creative self

Katherine Winlaw

Well-being + Creativity

• The two are inextricably linked. • In Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory, living a

creative life is to reach optimal flourishing.

“We are all created creative”

Maya Angelou

• Humans are creative beings. • Within each of us there is a creative self

aching to be born.

• Extensive research reveals positive self-perception, positive judgments of others, performance on mental tasks, creativity, flexibility and originality are present in those with high personal well-being.

(Robertson & Cooper, 2011)

Creativity is multi-dimensional Creativity is merely manifesting something new, bringing something into being, self-expression without filters.

It stands to reason there are unlimited ways our creativity can be demonstrated.

Designing, acting, writing, internet memetics, drawing, singing, dancing, painting, knitting, cooking, sewing, book making, cocktail making, gardening, screen writing, photography, song writing, music making, painting, comics, clay work, sculpture, origami, flower arranging, street theatre, dress making, film making, working with textiles, spoken word poetry, and that’s not even half the list!

Keys to the lock

• Being open and observant– Space to play – Whispers of your heart– Follow your interests & what you love

• Pressure, tension, stress and friction– Loss and grief– Life transitions

Inspiration

• Nature• Down time/white space/Being not doing• Dreams• Other people and their creativity• Success stories • Own and others failures

The creative process is a process of surrender not control. Julia Cameron

Censoring the inner critic

• Mindfulness• Acknowledge • Embrace• Move on – one step at a time

Making a practice

• Create a space you love to be in• Once a month make a date for yourself• Establish a time to just be • Set a timer and just play for 22 minutes a

day• Go on a retreat – for a day, weekend, an

hour

“The creative process is like a lover, and you must treat it as such. You must treat it with respect, with regard, with appreciation, with love, with joy, with gratitude, with fear, with all the complexities of a relationship. And if you are able to give of yourself in the ways it requires, it really becomes a relationship” Cathleen Rountree

Katherine WinlawThe Creative Wellbeing Specialist