Why creativity is such an integral part of slow living

There are days when I miss the flow of inspiration, especially after a day with a packed schedule, after a long work day, when you’re glad that you can sit down and pause for a moment.

I need to take a few deep breaths then and have a cup of tea to calm my mind. 

Switching into the creative mode doesn’t come easily in those moments but I remind myself how soothing it is to create: to write, to take or edit photos, to draw or design something.

You don’t have to be an artist to experience the benefits of creativity. 

Sometimes it’s just working with your hands like building something, gardening or decorating. 

It doesn’t have to be a huge artistic project, you don’t have to be the perfect musician or painter to experience the calming and energising aspects of creating.

What is perfection anyway?

We change our thinking, our brain chemistry when we tap into our creativity. 

We see the world from a different point of view. 

We pay attention to details, to things that we wouldn’t have noticed under other circumstances.

Creativity needs us to go slow, to approach things from a different angle, to stop and connect different shapes, textures, sounds, colours, thoughts and experiences.

Creativity is creating connections, connecting the dots from past, present and a future that offers all possibilities.

Being creative is connecting the heart with the mind.

It is connecting the idea, the inspiration and the act of manifesting it, letting it become a physical experience in the world. 

This process not only calms us but also puts off the pressure of hustle, of going fast.  

It’s like magic, bending the linear timeline.

Going slowly is necessary for this creative process. 

You take your time and become still to observe the environment, the details, time for the preparation of your project.

Creativity needs us to open up, to allow ourselves to completely submerge into the present moment, into a state without judgement, only just being.

Suddenly you feel the inspiration, you get into the flow, out of space and time. 

The magic begins, you create something, you bring it into the world and you feel energised and joyful at the same time.