Five Ways to Cultivate a Creative Life of Wonder

January sometimes finds me in the slumps from winter doldrums. I just got my Happy Light, a full spectrum light that helps beat (SAD), seasonal affective disorder, and I think it is helping. That and a planned beach trip for our anniversary. In spite of the winter blues, I do get excited about the new year and recalibrating my compass and setting my sights on where I wish to go. This year I wish to share with you the roadmap I use to create the most rewarding creative life. I have written blog posts about setting intentions, four rules to life, and guiding words for the new year. This blog will give you a map that you can customize for yourself. 

Here are the Five Steps for cultivating your life of wonder:

1-Show up for yourself. 

2-Be courageous. 

3-Foster focused play. 

4-Work in series. 

5-Be open to other possible outcomes. 

When you show up for yourself, you agree to be seen. I had to make the conscious decision to step fully into my life and to be accountable for it. I had been doing the work, but not being fully aware that I needed to show up and be seen. This is a mindset that leads to honesty and accountability on your part. Pay attention to the help and opportunities that come your way. Evaluate and act when appropriate. Be accountable for your choices and step away from excuses and blame. They only deter your path and keep you away from your path of wonder and creativity.   

Courage is an energy that must be exercised like muscles in weight training. Here are some of the things I have faced over the years that have built up my courage. 

To make the hard decisions and stick to them. 

To start something new that is out of your comfort level. 

To face your fears. 

To end or release something that you are attached to. 

To take responsibility for your health, actions, and personal well-being. 

To change negative patterns. 

To be patient, to wait, to trust the right path and right timing. 

Foster focused play may seem like an oxymoron but play or exploration must have an underlying structure to be useful, otherwise you are just doodling or daydreaming. These have a place as well, but not for this exercise. Focused play may look like setting up a color palette to use or trying new media. You may want to paint music and dance to engage your entire body in the creative process. What are some ways you can think of to play with focus? 

Working in a series is the next logical step for me because when I am in my studio showing up, paying attention, stepping outside my comfort zone and playing with some new materials, then I move step by step. Working in series allows me to explore all of the combinations possible. Think of it like trying a dance or a song. You do it one way and make a few changes and try it again. These are your variables in a scientific experiment. Line up a row of papers and begin. You may even try this with a writing exercise to discover your next project. 

And the final part of the journey is to let go of the outcome and welcome all possibilities. This is the most difficult step, but it is absolutely necessary to live your most creative live of wonder. If I stuck with how I wanted a painting to look when I began it would not have the opportunity to become something greater than I could have imagined. If I had maintained my vision for my path, I would not have expanded that vision and grown beyond my wildest dreams. This involves all of the other steps. You have to let go and trust. Believe me, life can be even better than you imagine. 

I am trusting in my next project of art installations in forests and in burn zones following the forest fires. I am taking the project around the world. I have the vision and have begun the steps but now I must let go of the outcome and see what other possibilities await. 

What path are you stepping onto this year and how can your vision be even greater?