Resolution #8,562: Will It Stick?

I've never been much for resolutions, myself. But here it is, the end of a year - of a decade - and the beginning of a new one.



So, if one were to make resolutions, now might be as good a time as any.



How about this one: can we resolve to open ourselves - more - to creativity?



Here are some classic ways...



Keep a journal of writing or sketching - or both. Scribble ideas, impressions, feelings, as the whim strikes. Alternately, discipline yourself to write or draw or otherwise be creative at a certain time each day. I used to force myself to journal every night before bed, even if only to scrawl, "Long day - need sleep"-!!



In her book The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, Julia Cameron advocates both spilling and refilling oneself. She recommends "Morning Pages": "three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness" (p 10) - to be completed every single morning. To balance this, she also suggests "an artist date": "a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist." (p 18)


Some people find it inspiring to look on the work of other artists. A visit to an art museum or even to a local gallery can spark all sorts of ideas. At galleries, you might meet artists whose work is displayed, and many love to chat and share their thoughts on the creative process.


And of course, art per se is only one form of creativity. Some people love to try new recipes for baking or just cooking dinner; others find it relaxing to knit or sew. (And yes, baking, cooking, knitting, and sewing can all be called art!) If you have a friend who enjoys a creative outlet you've never tried, perhaps you could arrange a time to try it together.


A new year, a new decade, spawns all sorts of retrospection and anticipation. If you are resolution-minded, why not aim to explore new creative parts of your mind? You never know what you might discover.