Howdy,
Well here are in February already and if you're anything like me you're wondering what happened to the last month of your life! January's are like that which is why I never really start my year properly until February. All the chocolates are out of the house, everything is packed away and the first pay check of the year has usually landed so now is the better time to make a move on your year ahead. So what have you decided to do? What have you decided to build within your life?
The habit is more important than the goal. I learned that last year in a very real way. It's also helped me to navigate the usual levels of frustration I feel when mood, life or my physical body get in the way of my progress. My only “real” job in terms of mental health and the general running of my life is to keep showing up for the habits that I have chosen to pursue as often as I am able. So many of the habits I have chosen this year are around creativity and intergrating that into my life in a whole new way.
Creativity is a huge part of my life. In fact I tend to define success as the opportunity to show up at the canvas. As long as I have enough money and time to make things my very soul is happy. I think that's true of most people though. We get talked out of our creative capacity so young that as adults we end up proudly saying things like, “I don't have a creative bone in my body.” and we say them without flinching. I know it sounds corny but we really are all born artists. I would actually go so far as to say that most of us will never be fully intergrated with our innate joy unless we are creatively engaged insome way. I don't mean become a painter or a guitarist. Creativity is deep and vast. It's a switch in mindset from work to play. Gardening, cooking, home design, wood work, we all need something that reminds us of our capacity to play.
Art has enriched my life so much that I can't imagine a day without it. This is why, at the beginning of this year I would love to nudge you in the direction of picking up a creative hobby. Learn an instrument, start making art, learn to cook, bake, carve something, whatever it is make a start. If you already are doing something creative, how can you deepen your practice?
When it comes to mental health I think creativity is essential. It's a place to think. It's an invitation to look at the world with child-like wonder again. It's a green light to remind you to play and to, at least for a moment at first, remind yourself that you are not on this planet to just pay bills and die.
Now, go make something!
Love,
Ryan x