Developing Creativity through Clay and Mindfulness
What is creativity?
What is creativity? … it is the ability to “see” … and to “respond.” – Erich Fromm
Creativity is not a single trait but rather a combination of complementary characteristics: deduction and intuition, reason and imagination, emotion and reflection. (Biason, State of Mind)
Often, we are driven by the belief that we are not creative and that this condition cannot change. In reality, as the British educator Robinson also asserts, every person possesses immense creative potential, which can be trained, refined, and improved. If you haven’t heard of him, I recommend watching his TED Talk).
Creativity is not an innate talent reserved for a few chosen individuals; rather, it is a way of operating and experimenting, of playing with ideas.
Let’s overcome the myths that limit us.
We all possess a more or less significant amount of creativity. However, this trait has often been equated with something exclusive to art or to brilliant and eccentric personalities. Creativity is part of all of us, yet I’m sure you have encountered one of these misconceptions:
- the idea that creativity is an ability exclusive to artists;
- the belief that creativity is tied only to a stroke of genius;
- the prejudice that we cannot train or develop our creative side;
- the belief that creativity is a fixed, immutable quality tied to certain standards. In reality, none of these statements are true.
Whenever we get trapped in certain thoughts or heed the judgmental voices in our minds, we limit our freedom to explore other paths. These beliefs essentially confine us, restrict our potential, and weaken our creative thinking
How to improve Creativity – Clay Mindfulness
So how can we train creativity? One particularly interesting way to enhance our creativity is through Clay and Mindfulness. The greatest potential of mindfulness practice lies in its ability to change our approach to the external and internal world. This is where the third pillar of mindfulness practice—The Beginner’s Mind—becomes crucial.
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” – Suzuki Roshi
By adopting a beginner’s mindset, we become more open and curious about the new possibilities the world offers. This attitude helps us connect more readily with novel ideas and approaches, fostering a greater sense of creativity and exploration.
To quote Jon Kabat-Zinn, “Only when the mind is open and receptive can learning, insight, and transformation occur.” Only by opening ourselves to wonder and the dimension of the unknown can we make a leap into creativity and imagination.
The focus on making an effort to be (or return to being) a beginner is thus a strong connection between mindfulness practice and the development of creativity and imagination. Additionally, the centrality of the body and experiential aspects is a factor we should not forget.
Creative thinking easily connects with manual skills.
In this regard, a hands-on activity like ceramics can help stimulate our creative thinking. It’s important to carve out exclusive moments to spend with our creativity. Recognize the judgmental tendencies of our mind and try to let them go. Embrace these moments with freedom and experiment. We don’t need to excel or turn it into a profession; we just need to enjoy our creative moment, our present moment, and savor it fully.
Creativity as a Path to Well-Being
Ceramics or other forms of artistic expression can become a practical form of mindfulness, often referred to as informal mindfulness. This practice offers a way to lower tension, pause the mental noise that can sometimes overwhelm us, and connect simply with the present moment.
The
hectic pace and demands of daily life can lead us to spend much of our time in our minds, detached from the here and now. Engaging in creative activities helps to ground us, offering a tangible connection to the present and a respite from the constant mental chatter. leading us to become trapped in our minds, causing us to live in a constant rush and disconnected from our deeper aspirations.
Mindfulness practices or artistic activities, such as ceramics, help us reconnect with our bodies through a hands-on experience. What connects them is their close link to the body and our senses. When we are immersed in a practical hobby, we can set aside the rumination and worries of our minds. The material we work with keeps us anchored in the present through the bodily experience we are having at that moment and in that space.
Through mindfulness practice and working with clay, we can experience a state of calm and tranquility, which enhances our well-being both physically and mentally. Carving out moments to connect with our creativity becomes an act of self-care.
