I worked with 20 painters last night, they were ending a conference weekend with a fun event and a celebration together (with me). The focus and goal was to help these folks let go of limitations by literally burning an old word and painting a new word. They were asked to turn the page. The new word was painted on the canvas, the new word was given a place of honor with color and paint. I saw people changing...as they painted and thought with a fresh perspective. The simple act of saying them out loud, changes. Most of the participants last night had never painted. I told them to pick a color that was out of their comfort zone. I told them to write a word that was out of their comfort zone. I told them to paint and not think. I told them there are no mistakes only things you would do differently next time...things can be fixed...everything can be painted over....things are not permanent unless you see them as that way. Things are not tragic and black and white and wrong. Things are just what they are, and if you don't like it, well change it. By providing the place, the challenge, and the simple act of taking something old and worn out, and painting over it with a new word...a new color, a new word, they were transformed. Some people left a lot messier than they thought they would. The ones that spoke the loudest about not being creative...were the most transformed. It was a letting go that helped those most transformed. It's really nothing you DO. The act of creating something transforms...a creative process is a spiritual process, the two can not be separated. Try it, it just takes a moment...but you have to set the stage. What can you do that feeds your creative self today?
