Topic Tuesday//BOTH FORUMS// Creative expression and our wellbeing! // Tues 28 July 7- 8 30pm AEST featuring Special Guest Artist from the DAX Cen

[Judi9877]

Hi @Renegade . You've just reminded me of a quote I saw many years ago that said 'Imagine how much you could achieve if you knew you could never fail?' . I think that as adults, we forget that it's okay to make mistakes and that it's all part of the learning process. Kids make mistakes all the time and keep bouncing back yet as adults, it's harder for us. Being creative without judgement would be wonderful if we were allowed to let our childlike self take charge sometimes.

[Former-Member]

There seems to be a common theme across the room with motivation and uncertainty about doing a 'good' job, being the challenges we face when trying to be creative. There are so many ways we can be creative and engage in creative expression, but where do we actually start? 

Given what has been mentioned about benefits the process brings to our wellbeing, how can we get started on this journey?

[paintingallday]

@Shaz51 i get what you mean.. sometimes for me the anticipation of doing something or wanting to something makes it feel big and scary, and too hard.. but once i start it's not like that at all! And then i'm in the flow of it and i think 'this feels great, i wish i'd just tried this sooner!'

[Former-Member]

Hey @Maggie - I had to google mandalas... they're beautiful, and painting on rocks 😃 think I'd enjoy that, do you just use acrylics?

[Renegade]

Listening to what your mind and body are saying and feeling is critical to being able to hear what your needs are. Only then can you decide on whether you may want to do something about them.

Somewhere in all of those needs will be the need for creative expression, in whatever shape and form. If you’re tuned into yourself, you’ll be ready to catch that particular need when it shows up. It could come in a really fleeting moment, because you could be so used to suppressing it, so you want to be open enough to hearing its call in that moment that it happens.

You will then need to give value to that need. Instead of suppressing or ignoring, you need to appreciate that call as an important aspect of your self that needs attention. So often we only value the ‘doing’ activities over the ‘being’ activities.

Being aware of what’s going on enhances self awareness and then empowers you to choose whether you take action to change these ways of being, if you want yourself and your creativity to grow.

[Maggie]

@Former-Member  By encouraging each other. Complimenting the effort and achievement.

[Former-Member]

@Former-Member They say a picture is worth a thousand words 😄  I love memes too! They tend make me laugh 🤩 

[Maggie]

Yes @Former-Member . Acrylic paint. They are addictive, beware. I’ll leave some info on the craft corner if you would like.

[Renegade]

Yes @Judi9877, our inner child knows what's joyful

[Former-Member]

Ignoring the bullies and Silencing the inner critic is so very hard.