|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You are so creative.
Don't deny it. Whether or not you consider yourself a creative type, the truth is that you are constantly creating ideas.
Mindfulness invites you to be aware of this constantly flowing river, and offers an opportunity to choose to sit beside it instead of swimming in it. By watching the ideas from that calm riverbank, you can more clearly see the ones that float to the top and sparkle in the sun.
But mindfulness is more than just mind watching mind. When we are engaged in the process of creating--whether that's words, numbers, music, art, or movement--without getting swept up in the concept of where it might be leading, that is a very pure form of mindfulness.
If creating is mindfulness in action, the little push that gets things moving is the thrill of discovery. As humans, we are fascinated by novelty, and we are pulled by our joy of seeing something in a new light.
Mindfulness allows us to approach the world with childlike wonder, to play with new concepts, and to see things from a shifted perspective. You can't always engage in new activities, but through mindfulness, you can look at the same-old same-old with fresh eyes.
The Wow of Wonder is what stimulates us to be creative. Without it, we are likely to come down with our culture's most prevalent malady--mindlessness. Mindlessness causes us to move through life without really connecting to any of it. It's living on auto-pilot. It's living without wonder--or fun.
Here's a helpful reminder: fun is good. We don't have to make mindfulness HARD. There is nothing hard about it. We were incredibly mindful and creative as children, and guess what? We had a lot more fun then, too!
The things that captivated you as a child were objects and ideas that triggered your sense of wonder. You noticed something new, and jumped right into the Wow of Wonder. And there were plenty of things that elicited that response every single day.
A bug you'd never seen. A card trick. Something under a microscope. A new musical instrument. A dance move. A song. An animal. A poem. A historical fact. A new flavor of candy.
Mindfulness is a catalyst for wonder. You notice something. An idea is sparked. A distinction is made. A perspective shifts. There is a fullness in that moment, ripe with possibilities but unburdened by expectations.
The Wow of Wonder is what allows us to transcend what we "know" and float in that river of ideas without sinking under the weight of evaluation. In our most mindful moments, it is wonder that saves us from overthinking and keeps things light.
There's no need to work at making mindfulness a part of your life. It's already there, and you can glimpse it in all of your favorite memories. Being right there in the moment, full of wonder, and playing with discovery--this is you being a creative person!
Pay attention to your moments of fun, and you'll see that there's a hefty dose of mindfulness in there. You are smiling. You are fully present. You are creating ideas and responses. You feel alive.
Becoming mindful is simply getting reconnected to wonder about the world and your place in it. Look for the Wow of Wonder, and you'll find yourself immersed in mindfulness.
Isn't it wonder-ful?
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com
SoulCollage? is a unique blend of spiritual practice and the... Read More
Something I have always found helpful is taking affirmative action... Read More
Bare attention (to objects, people and circumstances) is what brings... Read More
Creativity is the gift to mankind. This is not the... Read More
"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I... Read More
As workplaces continue to rightsize and downsize, we all find... Read More
I have one magical thought, lets see it more closely.... Read More
After studying scores of great thinkers like Leonardo Da Vinci,... Read More
Copyright 2005 Cherry Communications/Be Heard SolutionsThe creative arts enhance our... Read More
I have to admit that I am a confirmed puzzle-head.... Read More
Now that I no longer awaken to the sound of... Read More
Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your... Read More
Channeling is much easier to do than most people suspect.... Read More
DEVELOP YOUR ARTISTIC CONFIDENCE I'd really like to write but... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
I believe that as solo-entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives we... Read More
Deadlines are something all of us face from time to... Read More
"The challenges are not in the marketplace. They are in... Read More
Did you know that all of your most cherished dreams... Read More
How many times does an artist stare down at that... Read More
You may have heard of Roger von Oech's book, A... Read More
Dear friends the current study shows that there are more... Read More
I am trying to create a discipline where I blog... Read More
"True Power" is a series that will focus on proven... Read More
Once you are ready to start working again you will... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Unleash Your Creativity! Creativity has often been the misunderstood... Read More
What if there is no toilet paper and I am... Read More
Let me repeat what I believe is the most powerful... Read More
"If you really want to upset your parents?go into the... Read More
We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we... Read More
Want a fun way to tune up your brain? Why... Read More
Someone once said that man keeps looking for truth that... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Clutter is one of my favourite topics, and I've written... Read More
Have you ever heard the saying, "The harder I work,... Read More
About once every year or so, I take a critical... Read More
Have you ever had one of those days when you... Read More
There is no sure fire route to commercial success but... Read More
The brain is a strange organ. It works in ways... Read More
Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your... Read More
Can anyone be an artist? People admiring my work... Read More
1. Connect with your DREAM ? Indulge yourself in a... Read More
This was a very easy article to write. I was... Read More
Creativity alone can make you money and no matter what... Read More
Learn how to master your area of endeavor the right... Read More
"For the love a' creation!", my father was fond of... Read More
My fears are most powerful when they're simmering just under... Read More
There's no question that creating anything is hard to do.... Read More
Imagine that a block of ice has been set on... Read More
Creativity |