Mindfulness and Creativity: The Wow of Wonder

You are so creative.

Don't deny it. Whether or not you consider yourself a creative type, the truth is that you are constantly creating ideas.

Mindfulness invites you to be aware of this constantly flowing river, and offers an opportunity to choose to sit beside it instead of swimming in it. By watching the ideas from that calm riverbank, you can more clearly see the ones that float to the top and sparkle in the sun.

But mindfulness is more than just mind watching mind. When we are engaged in the process of creating--whether that's words, numbers, music, art, or movement--without getting swept up in the concept of where it might be leading, that is a very pure form of mindfulness.

If creating is mindfulness in action, the little push that gets things moving is the thrill of discovery. As humans, we are fascinated by novelty, and we are pulled by our joy of seeing something in a new light.

Mindfulness allows us to approach the world with childlike wonder, to play with new concepts, and to see things from a shifted perspective. You can't always engage in new activities, but through mindfulness, you can look at the same-old same-old with fresh eyes.

The Wow of Wonder is what stimulates us to be creative. Without it, we are likely to come down with our culture's most prevalent malady--mindlessness. Mindlessness causes us to move through life without really connecting to any of it. It's living on auto-pilot. It's living without wonder--or fun.

Here's a helpful reminder: fun is good. We don't have to make mindfulness HARD. There is nothing hard about it. We were incredibly mindful and creative as children, and guess what? We had a lot more fun then, too!

The things that captivated you as a child were objects and ideas that triggered your sense of wonder. You noticed something new, and jumped right into the Wow of Wonder. And there were plenty of things that elicited that response every single day.

A bug you'd never seen. A card trick. Something under a microscope. A new musical instrument. A dance move. A song. An animal. A poem. A historical fact. A new flavor of candy.

Mindfulness is a catalyst for wonder. You notice something. An idea is sparked. A distinction is made. A perspective shifts. There is a fullness in that moment, ripe with possibilities but unburdened by expectations.

The Wow of Wonder is what allows us to transcend what we "know" and float in that river of ideas without sinking under the weight of evaluation. In our most mindful moments, it is wonder that saves us from overthinking and keeps things light.

There's no need to work at making mindfulness a part of your life. It's already there, and you can glimpse it in all of your favorite memories. Being right there in the moment, full of wonder, and playing with discovery--this is you being a creative person!

Pay attention to your moments of fun, and you'll see that there's a hefty dose of mindfulness in there. You are smiling. You are fully present. You are creating ideas and responses. You feel alive.

Becoming mindful is simply getting reconnected to wonder about the world and your place in it. Look for the Wow of Wonder, and you'll find yourself immersed in mindfulness.

Isn't it wonder-ful?

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com

---

Art of Creation with Attention

Attention is the greatest creative power in the world. If... Read More

Self-Care for Creative Artists: 5 Ways to Start Today

Self-care is the path to creative expression. By paying closer... Read More

The Elements of Creativity: What-ifs?

What if there is no toilet paper and I am... Read More

Gift of a Letter

"What cannot letters inspire? They have souls; they can speak;... Read More

Riches Through Creative Thinking!

When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means... Read More

Creativity: The Key To Getting More Done In Less Time

If your to-do list seems as long at the end... Read More

3 Simple Steps To Solving Problems

You can move beyond your stuck states by contemplating all... Read More

10 Ways to Thrive as a Creative Artist

1. Connect with your DREAM ? Indulge yourself in a... Read More

Story and Screenplay Structure

Structure is beneficial to creative output in a number of... Read More

Top Ten Ways To Jump-Start Your Creativity

1 - Take A Tour of the Great Outdoors Consider... Read More

Connect With Your Creative Dream

We get so busy in our day-to-day life, with all... Read More

Creativity Management ? Artists and Creativity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

How To Master Your Game

Learn how to master your area of endeavor the right... Read More

Courage and Creating

Doing anything creative often brings up fears, anxieties, insecurities. Courage... Read More

Trying to Create From Distorted Perceptions?

We've all met people who are "negative" ? negative thinkers... Read More

How A Creation Box Can Work For You

Bring to mind a time when you decided that you... Read More

Creativity Management ? Finding Your Voice

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Find the Artist Within

Can anyone be an artist? People admiring my work... Read More

What Open Stage is Teaching Me About Life

After many years of performing as a vocalist, I switched... Read More

Creativity Management ? Working From Real Life

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creativity: Getting Out of the Box

Leadership, especially in times of change, depends increasingly on the... Read More

Creative Thinking versus Critical Thinking

The process of creative thinking is often, mistakenly, intertwined with... Read More

The Secret of Intuitive Intelligence

The word intuition comes from the Latin word intueri, meaning... Read More

Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?

The next time you're moodily sitting in your office, wishing... Read More

Internet Business: 10 Important Creative Ways To Get New Product Ideas

Creativity is one of the most important keys to success... Read More

What is Creativity?

Here in England September represents the end of Summer and... Read More

Go Ahead and Think Outside the Box!

I am trying to create a discipline where I blog... Read More

Think & Grow Rich

All wealth is a product of mind. Some economists will... Read More

How to Generate Ideas for Info-products?

Dear friends the current study shows that there are more... Read More

Creativity, Innovation, and Science ? Separate and Distinct or Not?

There is a pervasive belief that creativity and innovation are... Read More

Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks

"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I... Read More

Achieving Limitless Creativity

There are many out there who wish to help individuals... Read More

Get Creativity?

Creativity is central to the management of our individual lives,... Read More