As I was finding a clean page to write on in a notebook, I came across the “script” I had written when I was guest speaker at a local Business Network back in November 2017.
Not only did I talk to the attendees about my belief in the importance of creativity, both in our personal lives and our business, but I also provided a crafty challenge.
Everyone was given a pack with the same basic elements and as I spoke, I set them the challenge of creating a card. Everyone had the same basic raw materials, but everyone had a different finished product. This in itself was an important lesson
You can check out this video of everyone in action
https://www.facebook.com/wellingboroughbusinessnetwork/videos/1939771272950027/
My Talk
I want to share with you today my passionate belief that creativity is vital, not just for our mental well-being, but also for our businesses.
All of our life experiences play a role in our journey through life. After having my own children, I spent the following 20 years working with children and families in one guise or another – as a childminder; as a family support worker and as co-ordinator of family services and groups in various settings.
Me Time
When working in this field you are expending a lot of emotional energy and it was then I discovered cardmaking as a form of relaxation. It was something that gave me “me time” and allowed me to fill up emotionally, so I wasn’t running on empty.
So that is the first lesson I want to share with you. It is no coincidence that terms like Hygge and Mindfulness are such buzz words.
Hygge, if you don’t know, if the Danish concept of cozy contentment and well being that is found through enjoying the simple things in life
- a meal with friends
- hot chocolate in front of a warm fire
- snuggly blankets
- and home cooked food.
Mindfulness is about being present in the moment – maintaining a moment by moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environments.
Life is lived at such a frantic speed, that it is important for us to take time out to enjoy the world around us; to relax, to acknowledge the mad commentary in our heads; to laugh; to be with loved ones; to be alone with ourselves.
As a family support worker I would tell parents the importance of taking care of themselves and having some time out. If they didn’t look after themselves the consequences would be that they couldn’t look after their families who depended on them, The same goes for business leaders and not just for your families. Do you have employees who rely on you? Customers? If you don’t look after yourself, how can you look after them.
What I do.
When I was made redundant in 2014, I decided to to strive to make my hobby, that had become my passion, my livelihood.
I now spend my time equipping people with the opportunity, resources and inspiration to craft. I peddle “me time”. I am an advocate of Hygge and Mindfulness, encouraging others to become engrossed in the simple act of being creative. And if that is accompanied by friends, hot chocolate and cake, all the better!
You may not find your passion is papercraft. That doesn’t matter. Whether it is baking, gardening, woodwork, tinkering with cars, strumming a guitar or painting a picture, I encourage you to discover your passion and to take time to step put of the madness of the world regularly and fill yourself up.
Creative Thinking
But being creative isn’t just important in maintaining our mental health and a good work/life balance. Creativity is vital in our business.
I regularly used to come across parents who didn’t know how to play. They weren’t able to draw on their imaginations. To take what was in front of them and create something new. They didn’t see the opportunity to sail the sea in a cardboard box or to create a sumptuous feast from a lump of playdough. If we can’t imagine the unseen, how are we going to invent new products, new ways of doing things? How are we going to develop services that are different from our competitors? How are we going to problem solve?
The fear of playing and being creative may have several roots.
- The belief that there is only one right answer.
- Getting bogged down by inflexible rules and expectations
- Paralysed by the fear of what others may think
- The fear of not being pwerfect
- getting stuck in a circle of planning and overthinking
Let’s Grow
But if we want our businesses to grow and flourish, we have got to get creative and get playful. You have to take risks, but give yourself permission for it not to quite work out as expected, You have to allow your imagination to run wild with possibilities – because from wild ideas, seeds of possibility are often sown
You have to take the raw materials you have in front of you and play around with them in different ways, until you come up with something you are happy to share with others.
And that is what we have been doing with our little card kit this morning. I hope it has got you thinking about how you can allow yourself to free up your imaginations and to find the courage to visualise new horizons. To set sail across the sea in your metaphorical cardboard boat.
Back to the Present
I found it interesting to read back through the thoughts I had written down back in November 2017. It reminded me of the importance of being creative in thought as well as on paper.
You want to have a go?
If you are inspired to have a go at a bit of paper crafting yourself – to gift yourself some “me time” – then I am here to help.
There is no better place to start than with our All Inclusive Kits. Everything you need in a box to create beautiful projects.
Product List
Or perhaps you would like to gather a group of friends together for a hygge infused evening of creativity, laughter and refreshments. Check out my “Host an Event” information here
Whatever your creative plans. I would love to hear about them, so do leave a comment, or message me.
And come back and visit again soon.
Helen xx
