In an earlier post, I asked what you would like for me to write about.  One of the requests I received was for a creative jump start.

Over the years, I’ve read many books about increasing creativity.  I have found three things that appear in all of them.  Try these steps the next time you want to start a new project.

BREATHE – Breathe deeply and exhale slowly.  Whether you call it meditation, prayer, or yoga, following your breath helps you relax and tap into the wordless, holistic part of your brain.

SCRATCH – In her book The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp talks about “scratching” for ideas.  You can scratch for ideas in nature, books, music, museums or shop windows. Take photos, write down snippets of conversation, observe connections between things. Don’t edit, just take it all in.  Think about possibilities for your project.  Think about how to transform or recombine your ideas.  Then let it rest and go for a walk.

MOVE – Movement, particularly rhythmic movement, seems to reset our normal pace and flow of life when we get out of kilter.  Walking, swimming and other sports provide movement.  The rhythm can also come from playing a musical instrument or doing a routine activity like ironing, raking, or knitting.  During this time, just enjoy the movement and let your subconscious process your ideas.

Now it’s time to take action.  Go to your studio, seize your materials, and START!