C is for Create, Creation, Creative, Creativity
This post is part of the Sunday Series The ABCs of Getting Well Grounded
C is for Creativity
When I realized that today was C, I brainstormed a list of great words. As I read through the list, I felt frustrated that I couldn’t write about all of them. There are so many great words (and ideas) to choose from. After a moment of contemplation, I knew that creativity was the way to go. But first… I love to research words, especially words I know and love well, because I always walk away with a new perspective and a deeper understanding of why the word resonated with me in first place, so let’s begin with a few definitions:
create
cre-ate [kree-eyt], v.
- to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.
- to evolve from one’s own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.
creation
cre-a-tion [krēˈāSHən], n.
- The action or process of bringing something into existence
- A thing that has been made or invented, esp. something showing artistic talent
- The event that occurred at the beginning of something
- Initiation; the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new
creative
cre-a-tive [krēˈātiv]
- [n.] A person who is creative, typically in a professional context
- [adj.] Relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work (change unleashes people’s creative energy)
- [adj.] (of a person) Having good imagination or original ideas
cre-a-tiv-i-ty [kree-ey-tiv-i-tee], n.
- The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.
- Originality, progressiveness, or imagination
- The process by which one utilizes creative ability
I’m a writer. I love cooking, rarely follow recipes, and get tons of compliments on my creativity with food. I love teaching, and I’m creative in my lesson planning, my course development, and the way I facilitate my classes. I blend my own teas and love creating fun names for them, so people smile even before taking a sip. I’m creative in my approach to health coaching — no cookie-cutter guidelines or one-size-fits-all sessions for my clients. No way. I’m an only child and came up with some pretty creative stories/excuses for my behavior over the years (right, mom? dad?). I’ve been creative with my education and career path. I’m creative with word choice and with my handwriting. And as for ‘art’, which is what I originally thought creativity was all about, I have created several beautiful glass mosaics, designed much of what you see on my websites, and I often receive compliments on my photography. So now, I know myself to be creative. Not just because I say so (which I do), but because I am finally able to hear all the compliments and comments about my creativity from everyone around me. I’m sure they’ve been saying it my whole life, but I had self-limiting cotton in my ears. How did I let a silly little self-limiting belief stand in my way of seeing and hearing all this for so long? How about you, how have you been doing this?
