EXERCISE ONE: Core Beliefs on creativity

What are your beliefs on creativity?

I believe that every person on this earth is creative and has something special to offer. I believe that creativity can be developed and skills can be built over time. I believe that you have to put in effort in order to become more creative – it just doesn’t happen by chance.

Do any of your beliefs limit you from creating or do they liberate you to create?

My beliefs definitely liberate me to create.

If your beliefs limit you from creating, how can you challenge your beliefs?

N/A

EXERCISE TWO: Discover Your Unique Creative Expression

In the first column write down anything and everything that makes you excited, the things that you enjoy, and the things that make you unique or weird because these are clues as to where your creativity lies. Then in the next column write down what steps that you could take to develop creative skills based on the things you listed in column 1. (Remember you don’t have to develop creative skill in everything you like and you don’t have to develop every single skill that you list). Repeat this exercise anytime you feel stuck or are looking for creative direction.

COLUMN 1

What do I love or enjoy?, What things make me excited?

What things make me unique or weird?

COLUMN 2

What steps can I take to develop creative skills based on my answers in column 1?

1. Baking

- I can take a cake decorating class

2. Fashion

- I could create more fashion blog posts

3. Watching Marvel movies

- I could start drawing my favourite Marvel characters

4. I enjoy painting

- I can take a watercolour painting class since I don’t know how to paint with watercolours

EXERCISE 3: Identify what hinders your creative growth

Write down all the things that hinder your creativity (this can be past or present, and it can be people, experiences, places, or situations)

I had a very close friend who always questioned why I wanted to create something. She would change the subject when I tried to share something new that I had created or try to compete with me in some way.
I had another friend who would mock me whenever I created something; she never really had anything positive to say. I think she may have felt jealous of me or intimidated in some way
A few years ago, I worked full time in a very stressful job that I didn’t like. I was exhausted, physically and emotionally, at the end of each day and had no desire to create. I think I got burnt out.
Lack of time hinders my creativity at the moment.

What steps you can take to overcome the things that hinder your creativity?

I decided to leave my stressful job and found a job that was less stressful with flexible hours. This made a huge difference! I felt happier, I was less stressed and I began to create again. I also had time to take courses and build new skills.
Unfortunately, I had to let go of the relationships that were not supportive to me. It was very painful to do this but I knew that in order to reach my full potential I needed to be around people who were supportive, who challenged me to keep on creating, and who were not intimidated by me. I ended up making new friends and I feel free to share with them what I create and they always encourage me to keep on going.
I think I need to hire someone to help me with editing content so that I can spend more time creating.

What things will make your creativity flourish?

Prioritising time to be creative.
Being around supportive people.
Hiring someone to help me edit my content.

EXERCISE 4: The power of a creative affirmation

What are your creative dreams or what do you think is your highest creative potential?

One of my creative dreams is to create a weekend retreat full of workshops and experiences that give people the space to explore new creative skills in a supportive environment.

Write a short affirmation based on your answer to the question above. Say it out loud to yourself every day.

I have the wisdom, the ability, and the finances to create an amazing weekend retreat for people to explore new creative skills.

NOTE: I encourage you to put this affirmation on your wall where you are forced to see it every day or record it on your phone and play it back to yourself every day (or as many times a day as you need to until you believe it). And even when you believe it continue to repeat your affirmation. IT WORKS!! I invite you to do it as a challenge every day for 30 days and see what happens.

EXERCISE 5: Forget Talent, focus on building skill

What is one creative skill that really you want to develop and are willing to devote 20 hours to learning?

I would love to learn how to create digital art using a program called ‘Procreate’

Break down this skill into smaller sub skills and then decide what the most important sub skills are (you might need to do a little bit of research to discover what the main sub skills are).

Learn the different types of brushes and their uses
Understand how layers work
Learn how to sketch people and objects
Learn how to add colour
Lean how to create backgrounds and dimension
Learn how to add texture

I think that sub skills 1-4 are the most important skills that I can focus on learning first.

What step can you take to start learning one of the most important sub skills this week?

I can enrol in a Procreate class for beginners on Skillshare and finish at least 1 lesson.

When will you complete your 20 hours of learning this new skill?

I will complete my 20 hours of learning by the 31st of March 2022. I will allocate at least 3 hours a week to learning how to use Procreate

EXERCISE 6: Build a lifestyle of inspiration.

Name 3 successful creative people who you can follow for inspiration.

Oprah Winfrey
Marie Forleo
Victoria Magrath

Write down 5 activities/things that inspire, motivate, or challenge you and how you can incorporate them into your schedule so that you create a lifestyle of being inspired?

Activities/things that inspire, motivate or challenge me

How can I can I do these things regularly?

1. Listening to inspiring or motivating podcasts

I can listen to a new podcast using my headphones while I clean my floors and my bathroom each week

2. I enjoy watching animated movies. I learn so much about colours and I’m inspired by the skill of the animators.

I can watch an animated movie at least once a month

3. I enjoy watching YouTube videos by my favorite makeup artists. It keeps me motivated to keep on creating new looks and to keep on improving my skills.

I can watch a new YouTube video at least twice a week

4. I love trying out different types of recipes and eating at new restaurants.

I can try out a new recipe at least every 2 weeks (either from a cookbook or from an online cooking website/Instagram page). I can visit a new restaurant at least once every 8 weeks.

5. I enjoy browsing through my favorite clothing stores for fashion inspiration.

I can go window shopping once a month.

Emaese Jegede

Doctor and Multi-passionate

14

3