Albert Einstein once said, “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”
One thing I know from experience is that it is easy to get so wrapped up in the day to day activities of life that we forget to stop and allow ourselves the time and freedom to experience the awe and wonder of things around us. Sadly, it is experiencing awe and wonder and finding beauty that recharges us and renews our energy and passion to be innovative and creative in what we do on a daily basis.
Standing and admiring a work of art brings us amazement. Listening to a skilled musician use their talent to make a beautiful sound gives us chills. Walking outside and taking in a view of a magnificent panorama takes our breath away. Quietly watching a butterfly gather pollen in a garden filled with flowers whose colors run the gamut of the rainbow fills our heart to overflowing.
That thing Einstein said about wonder being a part of life? It’s not too far from the definition of creative rest. And, that is what we are discussing today.
What is Creative Fatigue?
We all need creative inputs. Whether you consider yourself a professional artist or you are an accountant who lives for numbers alone, you need creativity. Creativity is a part of every human being and it plays an important part in making us whole.
As parents, we often forget that we need to find creativity for ourselves. I’m not talking about doing some finger painting with your toddler or helping your middle schooler with a diorama for a school project. It’s not even about putting out handmade projects ourselves.It is about what we put INTO ourselves.
When was the last time you felt inspired or taken aback by awe and wonder? For so many of us, we have forgotten how to seek out and notice the beauty around us. If you haven’t noticed - really, truly seen and admired - something beautiful lately, you are likely experiencing creative fatigue. Much like we get acclimated to smells that are always in our environment, we often become apathetic to what lies around us. We must step back to become re-acquainted to the rest-giving sense of awe.
So, How Can We Find Creative Rest?
Creative rest is the process of beauty re-fueling your soul.
“Creative rest feeds our imagination, helps us find joy, fuels our gratitude, and fills us with hope.”
It is a place where there is no pressure to produce, but simply a moment to marvel at your surroundings.
What experiences or environments or type of art are beautiful to you? Where is it that you regularly experience awe and wonder? When we start to ask ourselves these questions, we are beginning a journey towards creative rest.
Maybe you find beauty on the trail through a local park. Maybe, your inspiration lives at a local art museum. Maybe all you have to do is walk outside and take in the flowers in your garden. There is much beauty around us, we must only stop and take a moment (or a few) and notice it. It is in these moments that creative rest comes.
Creative rest is the type of rest that inspires us and fills our soul with imagination and excitement. It doesn’t have to, but creative rest has the ability to lead us to our own creative output. It feeds our imagination, helps us find joy, fuels our gratitude, and fills us with hope.
How Do You Know If You Need Creative Rest?
It can be difficult to put your finger on the moment you last felt creativity. And, it’s hard to know if you need to find creative rest, as this is one type of rest that is a bit less concrete than the others. If you are unsure whether creative rest is what you need, check if any of these sound like you:
You find it difficult to feel like you deserve to be cared for
You always feel selfish doing something for yourself
You have difficulty enjoying things in their natural state
You rarely or never feel that your work and contributions are valued by others
You make self-destructive choices in ways that sabotage your happiness
You are always focused on what others need and don’t ever consider your needs a priority
Do any of these ring true for you? If they do, it’s time to seek some creative rest.
What Can You Do to Get Creative Rest?
I’m aware that creative rest can sound nebulous or unattainable. But, I’m here to assure you that creative rest is possible. It’s even possible to find it in small moments of your daily life.
How can you seek out creative rest if you only have a few moments in your day:
Observe nature. Take a walk around your neighborhood or even just through your front yard. Notice something in nature that is beautiful. Take time to really look at it and notice all the features that make it beautiful. Try this mindful exercise and apply it to a natural object of your choice.
Listen to music. Is there an artist whose voice makes you cry? Are there lyrics to a song that inspire you to dance? Stop what you are doing and play the music that inspires you. Don’t listen while doing something else. Stop and enjoy the music. Dance if you feel like it. On second thought, dance even if you don’t feel like it.
Do the thing you loved to do when you were young. Did you love scrapbooking in high school? Was your heart filled with joy when you rode your bike? Did you love to come up with dance routines to your favorite songs? Was that photography class you took in college the best thing you never knew you would love? Find the thing that you used to do that inspired you and do it.
Maybe you have some extra time to practice creative rest. Here are some things you can try:
Take a day off with no schedule. Put away your to-do list. Do the things all day that inspire you. Go on a long walk. Go hiking. Walk through an art exhibit with your favorite cup of tea in hand. People watch. For as long as you want to. Slow down and notice everything you can.
Take a creative class. If making creative things brings you joy, seek a creative outlet. Have you always wanted to take a class at your local pottery studio? Is the library offering a free journaling class? Maybe there is an online course on flower-arranging or watercolor that you’ve had bookmarked for awhile. Do it. There is something powerful and therapeutic that happens when we make something with our hands. Interesting to note - research shows that that creative hobbies lessen the effects of depression, reduce stress and improve a sense of well-being.
Go on an adventure to seek beauty. Do you know a great place for watching the stars? Is there a gorgeous hike you have been wanting to do? Is there a bakery a few hours away you have been meaning to try? Seek adventure and look for beauty along the way. Be flexible and don’t let unexpected events disappoint you. Have an open mind and be ready to encounter inspiration.
Many of us come up with excuses as we get older for why we don’t need this type of rest. I don’t have time. My kids need to get to their sports practice. This house won’t clean itself….
If we let these excuses lead us, we will miss out on this powerful type of rest.
Most likely if you are reading this, you are a parent. Whether you are the parent of young children or you are navigating the teenage years, you must not lose sight of the fact that you have a significant role to play in inspiring our children to find awe and wonder. The inspiration can flow both ways! I will leave you with this quote from the nature writer, Rachel Carson in Sense of Wonder:
If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder... he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.
Need clarification about creative rest? Leave me a comment.
