What sparks creativity? What brings you to do something new? Is it heartbreak, boredom, or spite? I've been thinking a lot about this, and I've come to a conclusion. I think creativity comes first and foremost from following what lights you up, passion. Yet, I think trauma, spite, boredom, are all boosters to that underlying spark.
Maybe those three things tunnel and funnel the escape that then leads you to the losing yourself in your work or what you love. Your passion. No arguing that a lot of beautiful things are made from a want to escape. You want to escape. You let yourself immerse fully in something. But I think you can do something new without having to have trauma and heartbreak if you follow the inner voice that tells you what is exciting you.
What makes you feel alive? As my friend told me recently, “What do you want to do right now ? What would make you happy?” Doing that, but not only doing it, listening constantly to what things make your heart speed up. What interests you? For me lately, it's been planting my new ferns. Whole story there, but I happened about some free ones and I've been giving them a new home.
I love my garden. It's as if, at first, you're not even in a good mood or happy while doing it, but after the action and work has ceased, having worked in the soil is like a natural antipressant . My favorite fun nerd fact to tell is that dirt works its way into your cuts and scrapes and does act as such. "Soil contains a microbe called Mycobacterium vaccae, which mirrors the effect on neurons of those that modern antidepressant drugs have in human brains. This microbe in soil causes cytokine levels to rise, which results in the production of higher levels of the messenger chemical, serotonin." So, maybe the elation and happiness just has a latent effect.
Cooking these Sundays for the filming of the "How to Bake in 8 Weeks Class" also gives me a spark where I lose myself. Making the fillings and swap out cakes alone before everyone comes over in the morning on Sundays. Trying something new. Brainstorming. Let's try tarts again. Let's do lemon tartlets . Listening to what makes your soul perk up. What makes my brain work in a way that I'm happy to do it. When it's over, am I satisfied? That's the key I think to finding what your path is and what you need to be doing if what you're doing is looking and listening for the next thing that excites or satisfies you. If you follow that nagging little voice in your gut, you'll get there. If it doesn't excite you, don't do it. So, I've been listening a lot to the,"What do you want to do?" "What would make you happy right now?" I think it will push me in the right directions. It always has.
I enjoyed parts of what I've been doing this weekend . Looking at plants to re-style the back porch for a feature. And I don't know how I feel about the word "re- style", as it can feel superficial, pompous, or douchey to say. So, I will just say build something new that then becomes part of your life. I built a nook, because it's better than looking at old plant racks and grow lights and extra pots, and now I have a nook.
Picking what plants go together. Arranging . Listening to your gut, again, thinking no that isn't right. Keep going or I feel settled that is it. That voice gets unused sometimes and when it's being heard again, it's scary and satisfying. Because each time I follow it. It's correct in the end and I feel settled. That's part of my passion too.
Other things that made my brain work and left me feeling satisfied, fixing an old antique mirror with my Dad that I bought whose plaster berries had broken. Rolling and making those berries in plaster lit something up in my brain too. Surely, it is part of my path and so similar to making my sugar flowers. But back to what fuels creativity?
I think following that passion and what lights you up is the ticket. A topic or whatever it may be is the first step. We all hope we are on the right path, me included, but that's been my approach of late. For me, the first thing that really got me was art . I loved my art classes. I wanted to know more. I became an art major. Then it was cakes and baking. I could not drag around enough hardcover books and immerse myself in them on a daily basis. That was my most passionate state. And it outweighed even the passion I had for those art classes. The next years later was gardening. How many hours I lost myself out in my garden is untelling? Reading. Planning. It's saved me. And I've said before, the feelings that are left in that dirt are vast. And lately it's been about listening to those tiny whispers directing on what to do next and what I am doing now? It's hard when you want to fork off, divert, and do new things. But the whispers are there just like they always were. You just have to listen.
The second thing of interest that fuels creativity is spite and proving someone wrong who doubts you. One of my friends could not understand creativity fueled by spite. I think it has to be fueled by passion first. But spite will keep you going when you're 18 hours in and you feel like you have something to prove. For me, I would say 17 years ago? Who knows how long ago someone said to me, "Yes Alex, we will see how far those cakes get you" . How many nights of no sleep I would be tired and weary and thought, "Yes, let's see shall we?" I'm a fighter even if I do so silently (and sometimes not so silently!) So, I call spite a creativity booster . But it doesn't all come from there. It has to come from a place that excites you. A place that makes your heart quicken just a little or doing something that gets your mind to a place that you lose yourself just a bit. But now, there is no denying that when you're tired, because getting somewhere with anything is a lot, that the little shitty things people say to you should be and can be used as motivation. So, I'm sticking to it !
Trauma can get you there too. No doubt. To make something to swim your way out of something, to free up your head. To escape. But I do think it can be achieved by listening to yourself and what lights you on fire. So no, I do not think that trauma is necessary for creation. But listening to yourself always is.
Boredom I think is the last thing I have to say about creativity . Anything that gets you into a meditative state . Weeding etc. baking with the windows open. This one is the hardest for me. Letting myself dream and get bored. Whatever . Whatever snaps just that right thought into your head at just the right moment . That helps too.
But I think if you're wondering how to start anew? You have to look at what excites you and those nudges will push you in the right direction. Just my thoughts for today. All I can hope for are prayers to navigate this open heart. And if the prayers send whispers, so be it. Best listen to them.
Alex