during this exercise, you’ll probably reach a point in time where your creativity just seemed to dry up. Something changed, somehow you didn’t feel the same kind of freedom. At whatever age this occurred, concentrate on the times before then, when you were creative and imaginative without restriction, when you created your own stories, characters and worlds without a care in the world.

Look back at what you’ve written and notice any common themes, both in what made you most happy, and the various ways that your creativity shone through.

The things you remember most vividly and most fondly, what did they bring you, what

As creative adults, for many of us one of the most difficult aspects of creativity is allowing ourselves the freedom to experiment and to be pioneering in our own way as artists.

All too often, whether we attempt to create a new language to write in, paint new forms with different materials, invent a new genre of electronic music or just sign our signature in a different colour pen, we on some level fight against the various rules and accepted disciplines and behaviours of sensible adult life.

Sometimes even something apparently as simple as colouring over the lines in a drawing book or playing a guitar like a percussion instrument can feel distinctly uncomfortable, almost like some parental figure is watching over from above, shaking their head, furrowing their brow and sighing disapprovingly.

But surely this wasn’t always the case?

Why is it that up to a certain age, as children we’re generally encouraged to be freely expressive and creative, then when we became adults (which depending on your background was anywhere from the age of about 10 to, well, it still hasn’t happened yet…) we lost this freedom.

Worse than not creating as we wish to, we somehow feel a collective disapproval if we do ANYTHING that’s too revolutionary, radical or different from the mainstream.

And yet we know deep down that to be truly creative and indeed to be true to our creative selves, means to push our capabilities beyond what we already know, what we’ve already done and to reach beyond this towards the undiscovered and the unchartered.

So how can we break free from this stranglehold and begin to nurture once again that pure unhindered sense of creative adventure we all have at a young age?

To get you started, try this exercise –

Firstly, think back to when you were very young, around 5 years old or as early as you can remember. What did you enjoy doing most? What could you sit doing for hours on end? Notice what you did and how it made you happy, and how creative and imaginative you were when doing these things. Write them down in detail.

Now take yourself gradually forward in time to around 10 years old. As you do so, what other creative and enjoyable things come to mind? Again notice what you did and the creative elements of yourself you put to use, and write down the details.

Again now take yourself forward, to your early teens, maybe 14 or 15 years old. What sort of activities did you enjoy then? What did you love to do, what made time disappear?

At some point during this exercise, you’ll probably reach a point in time where your creativity just seemed to dry up. Something changed, somehow you didn’t feel the same kind of freedom. At whatever age this occurred, concentrate on the times before then, when you were creative and imaginative without restriction, when you created your own stories, characters and worlds without a care in the world.

Look back at what you’ve written and notice any common themes, both in what made you most happy, and the various ways that your creativity shone through.

The things you remember most vividly and most fondly, what did they bring you, what d

instrument can feel distinctly uncomfortable, almost like some parental figure is watching over from above, shaking their head, furrowing their brow and sighing disapprovingly.

But surely this wasn’t always the case?

Why is it that up to a certain age, as children we’re generally encouraged to be freely expressive and creative, then when we became adults (which depending on your background was anywhere from the age of about 10 to, well, it still hasn’t happened yet…) we lost this freedom.

Worse than not creating as we wish to, we somehow feel a collective disapproval if we do ANYTHING that’s too revolutionary, radical or different from the mainstream.

And yet we know deep down that to be truly creative and indeed to be true to our creative selves, means to push our capabilities beyond what we already know, what we’ve already done and to reach beyond this towards the undiscovered and the unchartered.

So how can we break free from this stranglehold and begin to nurture once again that pure unhindered sense of creative adventure we all have at a young age?

To get you started, try this exercise –

Firstly, think back to when you were very young, around 5 years old or as early as you can remember. What did you enjoy doing most? What could you sit doing for hours on end? Notice what you did and how it made you happy, and how creative and imaginative you were when doing these things. Write them down in detail.

Now take yourself gradually forward in time to around 10 years old. As you do so, what other creative and enjoyable things come to mind? Again notice what you did and the creative elements of yourself you put to use, and write down the details.

Again now take yourself forward, to your early teens, maybe 14 or 15 years old. What sort of activities did you enjoy then? What did you love to do, what made time disappear?

At some point during this exercise, you’ll probably reach a point in time where your creativity just seemed to dry up. Something changed, somehow you didn’t feel the same kind of freedom. At whatever age this occurred, concentrate on the times before then, when you were creative and imaginative without restriction, when you created your own stories, characters and worlds without a care in the world.

Look back at what you’ve written and notice any common themes, both in what made you most happy, and the various ways that your creativity shone through.

The things you remember most vividly and most fondly, what did they bring you, what

ical or different from the mainstream.

And yet we know deep down that to be truly creative and indeed to be true to our creative selves, means to push our capabilities beyond what we already know, what we’ve already done and to reach beyond this towards the undiscovered and the unchartered.

So how can we break free from this stranglehold and begin to nurture once again that pure unhindered sense of creative adventure we all have at a young age?

To get you started, try this exercise –

Firstly, think back to when you were very young, around 5 years old or as early as you can remember. What did you enjoy doing most? What could you sit doing for hours on end? Notice what you did and how it made you happy, and how creative and imaginative you were when doing these things. Write them down in detail.

Now take yourself gradually forward in time to around 10 years old. As you do so, what other creative and enjoyable things come to mind? Again notice what you did and the creative elements of yourself you put to use, and write down the details.

Again now take yourself forward, to your early teens, maybe 14 or 15 years old. What sort of activities did you enjoy then? What did you love to do, what made time disappear?

At some point during this exercise, you’ll probably reach a point in time where your creativity just seemed to dry up. Something changed, somehow you didn’t feel the same kind of freedom. At whatever age this occurred, concentrate on the times before then, when you were creative and imaginative without restriction, when you created your own stories, characters and worlds without a care in the world.

Look back at what you’ve written and notice any common themes, both in what made you most happy, and the various ways that your creativity shone through.

The things you remember most vividly and most fondly, what did they bring you, what

ost? What could you sit doing for hours on end? Notice what you did and how it made you happy, and how creative and imaginative you were when doing these things. Write them down in detail.

Now take yourself gradually forward in time to around 10 years old. As you do so, what other creative and enjoyable things come to mind? Again notice what you did and the creative elements of yourself you put to use, and write down the details.

Again now take yourself forward, to your early teens, maybe 14 or 15 years old. What sort of activities did you enjoy then? What did you love to do, what made time disappear?

At some point during this exercise, you’ll probably reach a point in time where your creativity just seemed to dry up. Something changed, somehow you didn’t feel the same kind of freedom. At whatever age this occurred, concentrate on the times before then, when you were creative and imaginative without restriction, when you created your own stories, characters and worlds without a care in the world.

Look back at what you’ve written and notice any common themes, both in what made you most happy, and the various ways that your creativity shone through.

The things you remember most vividly and most fondly, what did they bring you, what

during this exercise, you’ll probably reach a point in time where your creativity just seemed to dry up. Something changed, somehow you didn’t feel the same kind of freedom. At whatever age this occurred, concentrate on the times before then, when you were creative and imaginative without restriction, when you created your own stories, characters and worlds without a care in the world.

Look back at what you’ve written and notice any common themes, both in what made you most happy, and the various ways that your creativity shone through.

The things you remember most vividly and most fondly, what did they bring you, what did they give you, what was important to you about them?

Finally, apply what you’ve learnt to your creative life today. How can you bring more of these things that were important to you as a child into your life now? List as many ways you can think of, however small they may be.

Now, choose THREE things from this list and put them into action TODAY...

© Copyright 2006 Dan Goodwin