When we begin the journey to create a life which is deeply satisfying, we are immediately led to look inside. Why is this? It is because what we believe about ourselves and the world has a profound impact on how we perceive and experience our lives.
No doubt you have encountered people who have little in the way of material goods, and perhaps live in very challenging circumstances, yet are happy and satisfied people. On the other hand, you may be one of the fortunate people who has most things in life you want and need, yet you don’t feel fulfilled. It is possible that, in spite of what we have been conditioned to believe, happiness is not dependent on exterior circumstances.
Assuming this is so, it may be time to look at where fulfillment really resides. The great spiritual teaching “A Course in Miracles” says: “Unless you create, you will be unfulfilled.” In my work with women over the past 25 years, I have found this to be true.
Creativity can be described as turning inspiration into physical form. This involves being available to feel inspiration when it comes along, and being willing to take the steps needed to make something out of it. This is most often not easy, because it usually involves digging pretty deeply inside yourself to figure out how to do it, and to find the courage to expose the tender belly of your inspiration to the outside world. The reward however, is a deeper knowing of yourself, and a profound sense of satisfaction.
Creativity helps us to feel we are a part of the flow of life, and to identify what our part is within that flow. Marketing mavens say that the need to feel part of a tribe is the deepest human psychological need. If this is true, then accessing our personal creative bent is a crucial element of finding our tribe.