When you think about creativity, or being a creative person, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
I’d be willing to bet that you’ve never thought about creativity like the legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal who died recently at the age of 92.
In an interview he did with Karen Michel on National Public Radio, he said: “People get after me… because I say there's no such thing as a creative person… we don't create a fly or a raindrop or a snowflake, but we can reflect creativity. And when we reflect creativity, we discover. And that's the whole thing about life - discovery. And that's what I live for - discovery.”
I was instantly struck by his words, because I had never thought about creativity in this light before! That we are reflecting creativity which allows us to discover.
What he is describing, is the power of nature (or God) that has birthed everything. This force flows through all of life- creating the mountains, the flowers, the fish, the seashells and us. Yes, we are included.
In essence, what Jamal is speaking to is the power of co-creation. That we alone are not creators, but simply the vessel through which creation flows.
The invitation then is to step into the river of creativity and be curious. Allowing ourselves to discover what is there for us, whether it is creating a delicious dinner, a tight meeting agenda, a new website or a piece of music.
To allow creativity to create through us.
Why not try this re-orientation on like a pair of glasses? Don them and have a look at what creativity would like to show you.
What do you see?
A new outfit?
A vision of yourself?
A bestselling book?
A redesigned garden?
They are all a part of the creative output that we get to reflect.
So why not step into that stream and see where it takes you?
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Image by Jan Cigánek on Pixabay.