#27 Creating Space for Creativity

#27 Creating space for creativity
(0:02 - 1:38)
Welcome to episode number 27 of Different Points. I'm joined with my co-host, Catherine Llewellyn, and I'm Roy Collin, and we're talking about creativity. What kind of inspires, what creates the best ideas for you? I mean, I know you're a very creative person, Catherine, but to the listeners, what fires off in your brain when I ask you that question? Thank you.

Well, you know, my brand is being space, you know, which is a space to be in a space to be creative. So I'm very into this idea that I actually think creativity happens all the time. But just that we as human beings often just don't notice it because we're too obsessed with our own drama and our own thoughts and our own complications.

But creativity is happening quite happily all the time. So I think it's about making space to let creativity come through. It's a kind of natural life force that wants to come through.

So for me, that is about clearing my head, clearing all the junk out of my head, which might be through meditation or yoga or dance or going for a walk, or just being peaceful, you know, making space in my head, but also making space in my environment. So I like to have the place clear. I don't like to have every surface covered in, you know, ornaments and doodads and bits and pieces.

(1:39 - 4:38)
Yeah, I've got some friends who just have stuff everywhere. It's all beautifully done, but there's no space left. I like to have lots of, you know, tables with nothing on them, rooms where you walk in and you can walk all around the room.

There's loads of space for it. I like to be outside. I like to be living in the countryside because there's so much space, big skies.

So for me, physical space and space inside my head are really important. And another thing is space in my connections with other people. So if I've got things left unsaid with people, or someone hasn't forgiven somebody, someone hasn't told the truth to somebody, someone hasn't, you know, sort of yucky, mucky sort of incompletions with people and loose ends, that can interfere with the space.

So for me, clearing those things up also makes space. So I think it's really about taking out all the trash, leaving lots of space, clearing the head, and then creativity just emerges naturally, because it's just there trying to come through the whole time. That's how I feel about it.

Yeah, beautiful. Yeah, I think minimalism helps, you know, and it's something that I'm trying to do. And I'm able to get rid of a lot of stuff, but not my books.

For some reason, I'm kind of clinging on to my books. But I've got into the habit now that if I know, all right, I'm not going to read this book again, I have a box in my hall. And it's like, anyone that comes in, I said, take what you want.

And I just feel, you know, it's kind of keeping it moving instead of just gathering dust in my bookshelf. With creativity, I mean, like the podcast, definitely, because just the conversations that you have with people. And I mean, like, even the last episode, just after it, I mentioned too, I think we can do a book together.

Because of what? And you know, that just, just came. Like with art, I love to do art. Like, no, I'm doing another language one.

So I've got a Polish podcast going on for years. But then I started a Spanish one. And I think by doing languages as well, it taps into your creativity.

I like doing art with my son sometimes. And it's just going to do crazy stuff. One time, we got the paints and just slapped the paints.

And I got a bouncing ball. And I said, all right, slap the bouncing ball on the paints. And you know, he's looking at me.

And it was like, just the effect you're getting. And just, you know, just being creative. No, I'm not being afraid.

If it doesn't work, all right, let's do another one. And just enjoying the process. And I think even reading as well, because I know I've mentioned it in a few episodes back that I like to have a physical book.

But your head sometimes go off in a creative zone based on what you've just read. And I kind of make notes as well. But sometimes, you know, you can be reading a page and you go, what did I just read? Because you just kind of went off on a little tangent yourself.

And I think that's okay. And then, like, if you do get taught that, I make sure I've got a pen and paper around the place that I write it down and act on it instead of kind of trusting, you know, my memory that, oh, I'm going to remember this, because this is an important point that it's written down. So then it will happen.

(4:38 - 5:54)
Yes. That reminds me of one more thing I'd like to add, which is what I like to read. I like to read fantasy and science fiction books.

And some people think that's just escapism. But for me, it's about creativity, because these stories are set in locations and situations that are not the norm for us. And so they can talk about all the things that happen in our lives from a completely different perspective.

And they can play around with different sort of what ifs and supposing we tried that, etc. And that feeds my creativity as well. So on top of making space for creativity, we can also feed our creativity.

And I've had some amazing ideas come through my own life or my work or whatever it might be, after reading something about, you know, an Asimov robot story or something, which is completely ridiculous. But something comes through that is relevant in my life as a result. Beautiful.

So what I would say to our listeners is get your creative hats on and write a question to us that you'd like us to cover. Because, yeah, we're happy to do that. And as we usually ask, five star rating, thumbs up, comment, we really appreciate it.

And until the next episode, take care.