Below is a Creative Spark exercise offered as part of a paid Keen Musings subscription. If this exercise resonates with you, and you would like to receive Sparks like this every month, please consider upgrading your subscription.
We all need a little more joy in our creativity, and more over in our lives. The good news is it doesn’t take some grand declaration to will your life to be happier. It it only takes a little awareness.
Before You Begin
The below Creative Spark is designed to help you find awareness of your joy.
Tools: All you need for this spark is a way to write down your thoughts. Computer, pen and paper, typewriter. Whatever works for you.
Time: Dedicate 20-30 minutes.
If you would like some audio inspiration while working on this spark, here are a couple playlists to keep the vibe going.
What Came Up For Me
What surprised me about doing this Creative Spark, was that most of the moments giving me joy came from a place of observation. It wasn’t me accomplishing something or performing some action. I feel the most joy when I’m witnessing pure joy in other people.
One example is when I watch my husband and daughter laugh at something silly. The moments are noteworthy because those two are tickled pink over something I genuinely do not find funny. My sense of humor tends to be darker than theirs, so when they both feel elation at the same time like that, I see it’s because it’s a fraction of living I am not tapped into.
But that’s what makes it so cool.
Every ounce of joy I’m feeling is because I’m witnessing their joy in full force. I don’t need to change my personality to find different things funny. I just need to be open enough to catch their contagious happiness.
This whole spark has been a reminder to make more space for others. It’s easy for me to get bogged down in my own agenda for the day, but in doing so, I’m missing the joy exuded around me. I am actually robbing myself of the opportunity of feeling it by proxy.
How did it evolve throughout the rest of my week?
I made more intentional choices. When I drove Ivy to school, and she was making wild silly sounds, I let her. I took a step back to witness that she wasn’t just a noise machine but actually experiencing her own delight.
I also opened the doors in the morning, so I could hear the birds because I remembered writing down how much that brought me joy. It was a little thing, and yet it made the routine that much more enjoyable.
And honestly being intentional with it, felt good. A collection of little choices shifted my whole state of mind and that felt pretty powerful. Sometimes we really are a sum of our parts.
What Came Up For You?
What sort of joyous moments jumped out to you? Did any surprise you? Comment below or send me an email. If you feel like sharing, I would love to hear what came up for you.
Keep on creating,
P.S. if you want to hear more about why I started these Creative Sparks, check out this read.
Share this post