When I grew up, I was surrounded by creatives. While my dad was an artist, my mother would make clothes and garden, and my grandfather was a woodworker. My grandad had a shed filled with wood and machines, as well as a darkroom for his photography. After my older brothers moved out, my mother had a sewing room, and my father had a place where he would sit and paint.
In these spaces, they were content.
Contentment creators.
This doesn't mean they were always happy in these spaces, as sometimes the things they were doing didn't work and they might get frustrated, but being creative is in itself, satisfying. Being creative isn't just having lots of thoughts though, it is also about being able to apply those thoughts to make something practical. Something real. It doesn't have to be a table, a dress or a painting though, because for me, it could also be an article. But the application of skill to create something new has personal value.
The inspiration for this article came from a client today, as through our discussion he was talking about making a place on his farm (he is an engineer by career though) where he can create some his ideas. Between salaried work and the farming, he hasn't had the time to create a designated creative space for himself, and through the discussion, he realised he should bump it up the to-do list.
Because, being creative is therapeutic.
It was an interesting discussion, because as we were talking I mentioned how in the past family houses often had creative spaces in them of some sort. A place where people could build something. But outside of the kitchen, today's homes are more constrained and designed for daily survival, not daily creativity. Even many detached homes are no longer built with a garage area that can serve as a creative space, and even storage is being cut down on.
And I think that this is a big part of the reason that people look to satisfy their creative selves, by buying stuff. But it isn't just a lack of space, it is also a lack of skill. Because if there isn't the space to learn a new skill, there also isn't the possibility to fall in love with creating using that skill. Back in the day, my grandad built his home himself out of necessity, as did many in Finland. But the ability to do this came from childhood learnings with parents and grandparents, and then the chance to practice, improve, and practice some more. It is much harder to do this when already in adulthood, because there isn't the foundation, nor the creative habit.
We are creative animals.
And as our own creativity is personally valuable (and perhaps necessary for happiness), we really should think about the options available to have our own Happy Space. Not a place on the couch where we can sit and comfortably consume the creations of others, but an area where we can be creative ourselves. It might be on the couch, but it is probably better to have a differentiated space if possible, just for the sake of habit forming.
Create what?
Anything.
Because what we are doing when we create something ourselves, is building ownership. Everything we create, whether it be a drawing, or painting a wall a new colour, gets our attention put into it. Our effort, our sweat, our work. It becomes ours. And because it is ours, we appreciate it more, look after it better, and take a sense of accomplishment from it. But also, even if it takes effort, we can enjoy the journey. When we buy stuff, even though we have worked for the money, there is very little journey involved and as such, most of the stuff we buy, is just another thing with a quickly fading enjoyment factor that is soon forgotten.
I am a big proponent of creativity, because personally and through observation of others, it seems to be where most people find their highest level of joy. Again, it can still mean hard work and frustration, but the process of creating, especially something useful or beautiful, generates a huge sense of accomplishment, as well as something that gives an immediate feedback. Much of the work we do today for money, doesn't provide the same even if creative - because most of the paid work we do, we aren't doing for ourselves, nor is it in service to the things we believe in. There are exceptions, of course.
It would be interesting to get some insight into your own happy spaces, or whether you have carved out a creative space for yourself at all. It isn't actually about the space, it could be a period of time, but those boundaries where daily life and creative life can be separated a little, can go a long way to getting the gains that come from creation. In my home, I have the space in the garage where I build stuff, and I have the space on the screen where I write and edit photos. My daughter has her room where she creates imaginary worlds and a piano on which to make music. But my wife doesn't have a space at all - and she doesn't create. She is creative at work, but doesn't create anything for the sake of creation, so she is not a personal creator.
I am going to have to ask her more about this.
She could be a great writer.
Would a space help her?
Probably. But having the space isn't enough, just like having a kitchen doesn't make a chef. It requires that consistency of usage, that ability to shut out the rest of the world, and focus attention on a more singular process toward a goal. A dress, a meal, a piece of music.
Do you have space in your life to be happy?
Taraz
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This is one of the reasons I decided to purchase the land in Portugal and get deeply involved in the construction as well as the land maintenance farming and gardening. I had a need to come back to the physical world getting involved in stuff I had to do as much with my hands as with my brain. I loved creating doors and furniture, harvesting the olives or setting up the electric system in the house. It is like a big living canvas where I can experiment, fail and try again and I love it.
I am so glad that at least people like yourself are doing things like this. I know a few, but it is a small minority, while the majority keep on trying to buy happiness. Awesome work!
I think creativity comes down to discipline. These days, we can spend the whole day working, consuming, doom scrolling and the day is done. Busy with no downtime that would motivate us to create. Kinda like being a sales guy always communicating with prospects, management and clients but never blocking the time off to do any prospecting. Can lead to soft spots in the funnel.
Creativity and creating surely must be like a muscle which can atrophy without exercise. Leading to soft spots in purpose, passion, fulfillment and happiness.
We definitely have to consciously and consistently MAKE time to be creative. Everyone is a creator even if they are not adept in conventional artistic disciplines. No better time to start than the present!
And then wondering why they have no pipeline...
It is a good analogy for it.
I think so. And, those soft spots turn what could be a quality life, into something bland, something that just passes by until death.
Absolutely. Nothing we do has to be world-class. We just have to do.
One of the first things I did when I moved into our current house was I built a workbench for the wall in the garage. I am not the handiest person in the world, but I knew I wanted to have a place to work for when the "bug got me". My wife thinks the garage is a hot mess and it drives her crazy, but I have a nice space where I can tinker and work on things.
I need a proper bench - the old garden table isn't cutting it.
But I bet she doesn't mind when she gets to enjoy the fruits of your labour :)
Yes, she does enjoy that. I just took an old metal door that I got from a scrap pile and built a frame for it. It works quite well. Plus I don't have to worry about burning it or cutting it or anything.
You need to find free time for a hobby. Yesterday I started recording an audio story on a voice recorder to post on YouTube. I don't know how it will go, but I enjoy this creative endeavor.
Or, your time should be taken up with valuable things.
Sounds like you are having fun with it - is it your story, or someone else's?
To start, I'll post my favorite stories by my favorite writers. And then, perhaps, some poems of my own, written long ago.
yea.. i want to have more spaces to work / create stuff.. i always wanted a workshop.. i have the interest in woodworking and fabrication, but never pursued it really. so far, just my PC desk is my space (now i just recline on my bed with a laptop).
in the future i will have a space like this..
You don't want a workshop, you want a lair! :D
😉😁
You talked about creativity as a source of contentment, and it's very true. This reminds me of how my grandparents lived their lives. They always wanted to engage, and they had projects going on. Some farming, gardening, and everything to just engage themselves. I thought it was just them acting busy, but I didn't know it was what made them happy. They were more experienced in their lives.
Nowadays, we are surrounded by so many things not created by us, but things that
have already been made. We love already made things, and something easy. I've noticed how much better we feel when we make something by ourselves, that happiness is very important.
It is also important for us to be happy.
So many people under the age of fifty or so, have barely created anything at all in their lives. Is it a good life? At least, there are a lot of mental health issues...
Yes it is very true, our homes have lost those little corners where creativity shows itself. If you look around the environment today everything just designed for convenience not for imagination or anything whatsoever.
I have even noticed that whenever I create something whether it's writing, your cooking or trying to feel something, it's kind of give me such deeper sense of peace than just trying to buy something new. I think I have been inspired in the aspect of setting up a small creative space again. hope it will do more better.
What kinds of things will you focus your creative energy on?
Right, I think I don't really have a place for creativity right now. I don't know how it will feel when I'm making something with my hands. At least it will be very nice. Try something like gardening, painting or something, or just learn some basic skills that at least give that spark.
It's time to just get that happy corner, just for yourself only, where you can spark your creativity. And this can be very therapeutic.
Will you create a space for yourself?
I have noticed that when I make time and create a space for my hobbies, no matter what they are, I feel a greater sense of fulfillment.
I think we generally feel good when we put effort into something we value. It can take many forms.
Since I was a child, I loved drawing and I enjoyed it very much, but now my passion for it has declined with the busyness and burden of daily life.
But it is interesting to create a space for this.
Drawing is an easy one - grab a pencil and a pad of paper, and draw - instead of scroll.
There is a small building way out in the back of my place where I go to disappear, sometimes for days at a time. I have my weaving studio there, and it's where I can practice my mad scientist alter ego (dyeing wool and yarn) activities. It is my truly happy place as well as where I work for pennies on the dollar. Win win lol.
I have two happy spaces in my home just for me: