All of us are original, creative beings at birth. “Creative” is not something we have to become – it’s something we already are. Some of us simply lack faith in ourselves, dismiss our inherent creativity or even stand in our own way, stifled by self-imposed limitations, judgement and perfectionism. In doing so, we deny ourselves the great pleasure and fulfilment we would’ve otherwise received if we’d decided to unleash that creativity.
The word “inspiration” derives from being “in spirit”. When we are inspired, we literally invite our spirits to be delighted. We gift ourselves happiness in the truest sense. The joyful play of creativity expands our minds and refreshes our spirits. By infusing even the most seemingly simple parts of our day with our unique essence, we come to life. So, let’s go!
Journalling
Keeping a journal is a simple and beautiful ritual. We can release all of our feelings on to paper, allowing the pages of our journals to bear their weight. We can lighten ourselves, inspire ourselves and watch ourselves grow, documenting our lives and honouring our days.
Journalling is a personal practice – there are no rules, rights or wrongs. You may wish to also add drawings, colours, snippets of articles or mementos to your pages, or you may prefer to keep them very simple in order to achieve your goals.
Writing short stories
How often do we create stories from thin air, generating characters, inventing scenarios and filling a tale with colour, texture and life?
Writing is not reserved for writers – storytelling is part of our human design. Be encouraged to put pen to paper or orate a story from your imagination. Be as free and creative as you can, drawing inspiration from your dreams and the world around you. Enjoy your imagination and allow yourself to be utterly surprised by what you can create.
Begin with a main character – human, plant or animal. Next, give your character a personality and a sense of place. How do they look, move, think and feel? Next, design a vivid adventure of learning, growing and exploration. Anything goes. If you feel stuck, break through your inertia. Let your story inspire you.
Preparing a meal
Some come to cooking as a chore, while others cook with great passion. The point of difference is, of course, attitudinal. With a change in perspective, people who care very little for cooking can become enamoured with this aspect of a creative life. Anything is possible.
Setting the table
To honour a meal made with love, it’s only fitting to dine at a table set with care. A bowl of fruit or a vase of flowers makes a beautiful centrepiece for a table. A hand-picked garden posy, a scattering of leaves or shells – whatever inspiring treasures you may find to bring to the table – can also add a creative energy.
Getting dressed
With love and care, getting dressed in the morning can become creative, an art of self-expression and a great pleasure. Select colours, shapes and textures that express your mood. Style your hair in a way that brings you confidence, comfort and delight.
Dress first and foremost for yourself – to honour your body and also your aliveness – and to honour the day. You will find your mood positively elevated when you do.
Making a personalised perfume
Source a little glass bottle with a dropper-style lid. Infuse a carrier oil with drops of your chosen essential oils in ratios that appeal to your senses, then shake gently. Add a label, if you desire, creating one of your own design to embellish your creation and detail your blend for reference. Give your perfume a name. Notice how your scent makes you feel.
Making tea
Tea is a medicinal, healing and delightful pleasure, and the ritual of its preparation can be personalised in expressive, artistic ways that bring beauty to daily life. Honouring the ritual of it creates moments of peace and bliss in any day.
Bedroom bliss
The sight of a lovely quilt, folded sheets and pillows in place is a simple joy that can bring a sense of peace, quiet order and calm, not to mention the promise of bed’s heavenly embrace at the end of the day. Making our beds with love becomes part of a cosy and comforting rhythm of life. Choose colours and textures you love to adorn your bed. Take those extra moments to fold your sheets, fluff your cushions and make it beautiful.
Curating a playlist
Music is evocative, transformative, healing and energising. It’s for everyone. Music works on us at a cellular level, changing the way we feel. Choosing music to meet or elevate our mood is a daily creative pleasure not to be underestimated, nor taken for granted. Make playlists that inspire you, and as creative expressions to savour and share.
Crafting a scrapbook
Scrapbooking is a therapeutic, delightful and positively addictive pastime. As we gather together pictures, patterns, textures, words and motifs that inspire our joy, pique our curiosity and express our heart’s desires, we build our own visual language. In creative, tactile ways, we gather little bits of this and that to create something beautiful and uniquely ours.
Seek out a blank book, ideally without lines, in which you will feel free to create. Gather mixed media elements to embellish your pages, be they coloured, patterned papers or snippets of textiles, such as quilting fabrics, ribbons, lace, postcards, wrapping paper, stickers or stamps to bring your pages to life.
Writing a love letter
Love letters needn’t be reserved for romantic love. One of the greatest regrets people harbour at the end of their days is not having adequately demonstrated and celebrated their love for others, and for life itself.
We can all pen exquisite, thoughtful, tender and beautiful letters as expressions of our gratitude and admiration for anyone special with whom we share life. Share with them their best qualities. Detail the things they do that we love and let them know how much they mean to us. Such letters are true treasures.
Get inspired
Feeling stuck or craving a little spark to reignite your creativity? There are countless ways to have fun, think outside the box and express yourself. Here are 12 fun and quirky ways to boost your imagination and add a splash of creativity to your day!
1. Write flash fiction
Pick any random object near you – a stapler, a beach ball – and create a 100-word story with it as the central character. It’s quick and forces you to think outside the box.
Top tip: Limit yourself to 5 minutes per story. The pressure of a ticking clock often brings out unexpected brilliance.
2. Cook without a recipe
Pretend you’re on a TV cooking show with limited ingredients. Combine spices, experiment with textures and taste-test your way to a masterpiece. Alternatively, grab three mystery ingredients from your pantry and challenge yourself to include them all in one dish – bonus points for presentation!
3. Redecorate a small space
Choose a shelf, a desk or a corner of your living space. Rearrange books, add fairy lights or include some quirky objects to give it a new vibe.
4. Invent a new game
Think about combining board games with new rules or creating a scavenger hunt around your home. Add silly elements, like acting or riddles, into the game for extra fun.
5. Take a solo field trip
Explore a local spot you’ve never visited before. Observe, take notes or sketch your surroundings – no distractions, just your own discovery.
6. Mind map a wild idea
Grab a piece of paper, write down an absurd “what if”, like “What if plants could talk?”, and draw lines outward with related ideas or consequences.
7. Design your dream gadget
Imagine a device that solves a small inconvenience in your life. Sketch how it would work, add quirky features and give it a fun name.
8. Collaborate on a story
Text or email a friend the first paragraph of a story. Let them write the next part, then go back and forth. It’s surprising and entertaining!
9. Plan a mini photoshoot
Choose a quirky theme like shadows, textures or tiny details. Use your phone or a camera to find beauty in unexpected places.
10. Make art with nature
Go for a walk and collect natural materials. Arrange them into patterns, sculptures or whimsical faces. Photograph your creations to remember them later on.
11. Doodle your day
Start a small notebook where you draw a quick doodle to represent something memorable from each day – whether it’s a sunny sky, a funny conversation or even a coffee spill.
12. Write a letter to your future self
Pour your hopes, goals and random thoughts into a letter. Add fun questions, like “Did you ever learn to juggle?” and seal it away to read later.
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