For many years I labeled myself as not being creative.
Then I observed I was defining creativity in the wrong way, and looking to the external world to determine what creativity meant for me.
By listening to the quiet voice inside amidst all of the noise and chatter, so much creativity began to flow.
This same unlimited creative potential is within you too, you only need to settle down into yourself.
Inside, there is a vast space. From here, there is infinite power you can work with.
You may have forgotten you have this.
When the ego comes in, bringing questions such as:
What do you mean I have unlimited creative potential?
How could I possibly have access to such creativity?
The ego points to all these problems in life.Â
These temporary prisons and obstacles are constructed within the infinite inner space you have inside. Where do you think the ego draws its power from?
Rather than feed into the maintenance of these prison walls, which keeps you small and stuck, the attention can be directed to the space in which those walls are constructed.
Over time, the feeling of I am trapped will begin to fade. It is a matter of enough attention, over a period of time, with your full willpower behind the attention.
There are varying grades of willpower. Depending on how badly you want something, you will be more or less willing to put in the effort to bring it to life.
Meditation is one tool to access this inner space. Singing, cooking, cleaning, or creating are other paths that offer doors into the same space.
These tools enable you to remember that you are not the prison, nor are you contained within it. The walls are not real.
The tools to come back to this truth are many. Pick one you like, to help you return to your inner power. When you do so, limitless creative potential becomes available.
Creativity is not a trait limited to a select few. You have it. Everyone you know has it. We only create the self-limiting stories about how we are not creative.
The more opportunities you create in your daily life to come into this inner space, the more free you will feel to create. The longer you go without establishing conscious contact with this space, the more oppressive and constraining the obstacles perceived by the ego will appear to be.
Your relationship with this space can be one of a virtuous cycle or a vicious cycle. The more often and the greater the depth of connection you establish with your inner space the more familiar with it you become. Over time, it is easier to open up a connection, and you can maintain the state of creative openness for longer.
On the flip side, the less contact you have with this space, the more resistance the ego can put up in front of you. There is little middle ground here. Your capacity to connect is either in a state of decay or of growth.
The practice you use to open yourself up to this space can evolve over time. Sometimes one method will serve you best - a walking meditation on a day of feeling restless. In moments of deep joy, singing and dancing will be more fitting.
Listen to your body. It knows what you need.
You may find certain times of day are especially easy to be calm and settle down into your inner space. While at other times of the day, the ego is in an agitated state.
When beginning to intentionally connect with your inner space, take time after to reflect.
What went well?
What was difficult?
What was enjoyable?
Over time, your reflections will reveal patterns you can work with. Some of which, once you recognize them, you will be able to let go of.
Developing the practice to connect with your inner space, via meditation, creative expression, or other means can be a challenging and lonely endeavor at first. It can help to find and establish a community of practitioners to share your journey. They will be a great boon to you, and you to them. The collective is always stronger than the individual.