Nurture Your Creativity Four Tips To Self Care

How do you nurture yourself? How do you nurture creativity? This journey in life gives us opportunities to learn more about our expression, our inner experiences, and our motivation. One of the ways I have learned to be fully present in my life is to nurture the journey.

Through a story about discovering enthusiasm as a child, this page explores self concept as a key to unblocking the ability to self nurture. Nurturing your creativity starts by nurturing your self concept or maybe it is the other way around. When self concept is blocking you from reaching for your creative dream, then you may want to approach the situation from this vantage point.

Nurturing is notably a feminine trait.  Historically women have been leading examples of the attributes that we associate with this virtue.  While many men also possess these virtues, the concepts of nurturing are primarily focused on women, on the attributes of nurturing, and applicable ways that women can turn these talents inward to systematically create sustainable resources from within, which will thereby support a continuing desire to nurture others.

I believe that anyone can benefit from exploring the nurturing concepts and attributes. Nurturing isn't just for girls anymore.

Self Nurturing is not a new concept. Motivational writers and speakers have been exploring this topic for generations, as they explore the concept of focusing on self care, as a means to continue having the energy to care for others. This series will explore a modernized applicable aspect of this concept, so that anyone can find ways to meet today's challenges with the use of age old wisdom.

We are continuously bombarded with 'self conceptual messages.' When we are unaware of them, we may be influenced by them unaware of the impact they have on us.

Commercialization of materialistic concepts are in our path everyday. Even when we make a decision to avoid them, they can still wedge into our belief system and become a driving force behind our self concept.

Have you ever heard a commercial that says something like this...

"If you love your family, you will buy this today."

Of course you love your family! Quick, change the channel so they don't hear that you must buy something (not just any something but THAT something) as a symbol of your devotion.

No matter what you hear, see, or read, self esteem does not come from anything outside ourselves. It dosn't come from the shape or size of our bodies, the material objects that we surround ourselves with, or any people, places, or things, that we have been led to believe are the symbol of who we are.

Returning to the simple things in life, loving ourselves and others, is the key to discovery and sustained positive self concept.

Similar advertising exists on multiple platforms ranging from a television commercial to a billboard that we pass by on the way to work. In this new electronic world of communication that allows just about anyone to shout out to just about anyone else, we may find ourselves in a melting pot of belief patterns that are not conducive to our personal well being.

Are you listening to the right music, wearing the right clothing, driving the right car, associating with the right friends, responding to social issues in the right way, going to the right gatherings, thinking the right thoughts, putting your faith in the right leaders, and the list is exhaustive..."

I ask myself...

Have I been kind to myself and to others today? Have I been true to my convictions? Have I given of my time and gifts to others? Have I nurtured my creativity in a way that will energize me and be of service?

I remember when I was a little girl, we would pile up in the station wagon and drive to Gram's house for the weekend. Sometimes we would be leaving late on a Friday night so we would put on our best pajamas and bring alone a blanket. Four kids on a long road trip were easier to manage when they were all sleeping.

Gram's house sat on a hillside grape vineyard beside a vast expanse of ranch land. For as far as the eye could see, there were wildflowers of every kind. What was even more magical was Gram's kitchen. The aroma of banana nut bread and mint (from the peppermint bush outside her kitchen door), drifted far and wide, and calmed the anxiety that living in the city was best known for. I knew we were almost there when I could smell the ocean breeze mixed with the scent of hydrangea and banana bread.

Her Eyes Would Light Up

These memories are precious because they are a symbol of the love that Gram showed me. Not just the baking, the scenery, or the country setting; these are precious because they are symbols of the self confidence that she modeled and endeavored to instill in me.

I was a chatty child who learned not to notice when no one was listening. In contrast, it was easy to see when someone was listening, and encouraging, and offering concrete feedback about the thoughts in my mind that effortlessly found their way out into the room. I recall her smile and the way her eyes would light up when my enthusiasm escalated. She was an inspiring women with wisdom, love, and grace.

I am not saying that advertising is wrong, or that we shouldn't buy anything our heart desires. That is the key word... ask yourself,

Do I want to buy this because I love it or because I feel that it is going to lift me up to a standard that someone else has set for me?

I am not saying to not buy things that make us feel good. I am saying that what we buy and how much we spend on it should be our choice and within our means, rather than to impress someone else, which by the way dosn't really work out in the long run. If we are impressing others with material things, we will be reaching higher and higher over time to continue to impress them.

I am going to express my personal nurturing awareness and what I do for myself that creates long term energizing results that do not fade but rather initialize momentum.

1. I serve myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the best china. I purchased one plate at a thrift shop that reminded me of my Gram's dishes and I will use it for the simplist menu.

Always use the good china (well unless you have toddlers). This recommendation is for grown ups of course.

2. Make a 'to do' list without any pressure. I start by filling several sheets of paper with everything I want to do today, and then I read it, pick out the 'must do' items and leave the rest in my journal. Later I can check off the items that were completed and it always surprises me that about 1/4 of my list will get done without me actually doing anything.

Musts are the obvious things which may include meals, laundry, bills, shopping, and any number of things that we can put off for only a little while without causeing reprocussions.

One thing that helped me a lot was to make the must list and then space it out over a week or two week time. I even included the monthly things such as organizing a closet or cleaning the air conditioner filter. This way I can pace myself and everything seems to be done rather than having a dozen major things to do all in one day.

3. Run errands in a straight line. With the cost of fuel these days this seems to be a regular routine for many people. I live three dozen miles from the grocery store so I also plan my shopping so that I only need to go every two weeks.

Running errands in a trip or two can free up more time other times of the week for self nurturing.

4. Pick any 30 minutes of every day to just do something special for yourself. I get this time by getting up before anyone else. Another way is to plan it when you have a break at work. At lunch time I would eat and then go into my office, turn off the lights, and breath quietly for 30 minutes. The first time I nearly fell asleep, but when everyone was coming back from lunch all the lights went back on and I was rested and ready to take on the rest of the day.