Begin the year with a week of creativity prompts!
Is one of your goals this year to make time for being creative? That might begin with something as uncomplicated as relaxing in stillness and letting ideas bubble up, or it might require cleaning up a work space so you have room to move and grow and discover.
In case you need a bit of a kickstart, here are seven unusual starters to help you get off the couch and into your vibe, zone, flow - into the best of yourself!
#1 Words Prompts with Patina
We’ve all seen those lists of words that are supposed to inspire us, and quite often I find them entertaining if not exactly remarkable. Well, here are a few out of the ordinary words that offer more of a challenge. Where do you think your work might go using these words as a starting point?
Condiddle: To convey away secretly
Shinnicked: Benumbed, paralyzed with cold
Nizzle: To be slightly intoxicated, to be worse for liquor; to be unsteady
Wagpastie: A term of contempt; a rogue
Jangle: Gossiping, idle talking; to jangle one's time away
#2 Right Under Our Noses
Scent is one of the most powerful of our senses, which is not surprising since we have about 12 million cells in our noses dedicated to detecting all kinds of odors. If you need a bit of motivation, you might want to take a whiff of a just-cut lime. If you need to calm the busy-ness of life before you can connect with your creative self, inhale some basil, especially Holy Basil (Tulsi). And if you want to write or paint a romantic scene, you might want to fill those nasal molecules with the fragrance of cloves.
#3 Eavesdropping 101
No, I am not suggesting you climb on a roof and listen to your neighbors’ conversations, but catching a snippet of conversation on a train or in a restaurant can do wonders for the imagination.
#4 Wild Kingdom Adventures
Are you a fan of nature programs? If so, then you already know that PBS offers some of the best in terms of photography, research and depth. The next time you find yourself flipping through channels, watch an animal program without sound. Studying the movements and expressions of animals on a screen, or in your home, is an incredible tool for improving character descriptions, opening up dialogue, and capturing fluidity in clay or paint.
#5 A Breath of Fresh Air
I know you’ve heard this again and again, but creativity does do well with at least some degree of physicality. Walking the dog, taking the kids to a playground (and playing with them, not just sitting on a bench!), or going for a quick run can release our creativity. If you simply cannot go for a walk outdoors, try a gentle stretch, or a few minutes of box-breathing (Inhale for a count of four, hold for a count of four, release for a count of four, and hold for a count of four, then repeat.) before getting to work on that novel or sculpture. In a worst-case scenario, housework is always an option. Oh my!
#6 It Only Takes a Glance
Wherever you are right this minute, quickly look up and to your left. What is the first thing you see? A face? A building? A wall? A garden? Whatever it is, there is your prompt. What is the texture? Size? Can you tell if it is daylight? Let your eyes open up a world of questions and possibilities.
#7 The Raisin Exercise
This is a terrific stop and pay attention activity that takes about 5 or 10 minutes. If you can, make time to do this every day for a week; you may begin to see a real difference in the way you work and create.
The following was copied from: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/raisin_meditation
Holding: First, take a raisin and hold it in the palm of your hand or between your finger and thumb. Imagine that you’ve just dropped in from Mars and have never seen an object like this before in your life.
Seeing: Take time to really focus on it; gaze at the raisin with care and full attention. Let your eyes explore every part of it. Examine the highlights where the light shines, the darker hollows, the folds and ridges, and any uneven parts or unique features.
Touching: Turn the raisin over between your fingers, exploring its texture. Try doing this with your eyes closed if that enhances your sense of touch.
Smelling: Hold the raisin beneath your nose. With each breath in, take in any smell, aroma, or fragrance that may arise. As you do this, notice anything interesting that may be happening in your mouth or stomach.
Placing: Now slowly bring the raisin up to your lips, noticing how your hand and arm know exactly how and where to position it. Gently place the raisin in your mouth; without chewing, noticing how it gets into your mouth in the first place. Spend a few moments focusing on the sensations of having it in your mouth, exploring it with your tongue.
Tasting: When you are ready, prepare to chew the raisin, noticing how and where it needs to be for chewing. Then, very consciously, take one or two bites into it and notice what happens in the aftermath. Place close attention to any waves of taste that come from it as you continue chewing. Without swallowing yet, notice the bare sensations of taste and texture in your mouth and how these may change over time, moment by moment. Also pay attention to any changes in the raisin itself.
Swallowing: When you feel ready to swallow the raisin, see if you can first notice the urge to swallow as it comes up, so that even this is experienced consciously before you actually swallow the raisin.
Following: Finally, see if you can feel what is left of the raisin moving down into your stomach, and sense how your body as a whole is feeling after you have completed this exercise.
