January is International Creativity Month!! Naturally I wanted to write this post so much earlier in the month because its such an amazing opportunity to start the year inspired – but as with all things in entrepreneurship – we got busy and things had to get shuffled around. BUT…..Better late than never though because this is the CORNERSTONE of my entire business and the way that I chose to live my life so naturally I have a lot of words to say about it.

First things first ……

Creativity means a lot of different things to different people and can be a source of contention between individuals. A lot of people associate creativity with artistic ability or skill, but there are so many ways to be creative in this life other than art. The way in which you craft your schedule for the day, the way you style your home, the clothing you choose to wear – all of those are very closely tied to creativity.

Judging someone’s level of creativity can be a slippery slope to saying something deeply offensive. There are so many people who have been told that they were not creative enough, myself included, and that assumption can weigh heavy on people.

I honestly think creativity is one of the traits that we all have access to but are too scared to explore because it’s an invitation for someone to pass judgement. And it’s not just arbitrary judgement, its judgement about things that are deeply tied to us as creativity is informed by our most intimate thoughts and feelings.

That being said – Creativity can be SCARY

….because it requires a sense of vulnerability to look within ourselves, which can be incredibly uncomfortable. Even if we are brave enough to get to the stage of looking within, we have to sort out what’s there. This means looking at all of the conditional thoughts and feelings we have about ourselves that were given to us by others. After we can sort through things, then we start to develop new truths about ourselves and those little truths turn into creative ventures.

Maybe your discovered truth is that you like to cook, so you begin to experiment in the kitchen. Your truth could be the fact that you really like the aesthetic of grunge culture, so you start replacing some of your clothing to match your desired look. Maybe you have found a great amount of joy in landscaping so you research horticulture and how to blend certain plants to create a symbiotic ecosystem.

Being openly creative means sharing the little truths about ourselves that we like – but one comment from someone else can sometimes make us feel absolutely stupid for even trying.

So what does it take to live an openly creative life?

It takes courage – a whole lot of it. I had a dear friend and mentor tell me consistently that I was not a very creative person and it honestly wrecked me. It really made me feel like it was impossible for me to ever be a full time artist. I listened to that person for several years before I realized that I had an opportunity to make up my own mind about myself. It took a hell of a lot of courage to break that mold but when I did, I started experiencing a lot more joy and a level of self love and trust I didn’t know was possible. That trust was the foundation for my business and the foundation I stand on every single day.

I do want to highlight that courage does not replace the presence of fear. Fear will always be present with creativity. Even though I am a full time artist with a growing business- it’s still scary to look within, it’s still hard to be vulnerable, I still get weary when people critique me, but it’s the courage to keep showing up for myself and my truth that allows for me to continue.

Also do yourselves a favor and pick up a copy of Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic. It was the number one resource that inspired me to take up creative living.

So how do we really get this thing going?

Take action – even if you’re scared. Show up to the ballet class, suggest the new innovative solution at work, plan one creative photoshoot that’s out of your comfort zone. Do not beat yourself up for the outcome of your new creative pursuits. It’s going to be a bit messy at the start – but you’ll find your way. The more you critique and criticize your early work, the less likely you are to keep going.

There are two things that will make creative living easier – one – consistency. Keep showing up and it will get easier and you will become more skilled in whatever you’re doing. And the second – surround yourself with creative ideas, people, pinterest boards, podcasts, books, movies, or resource you can that inspires you. Inspired people are more likely to follow through, try new things, and push themselves to improve their skills.

So easy peasy right? Haha – wrong. But here are 3 ways you can start living a more creative life.

• Start a journal or some exercise that allows for you to be vulnerable and discover more of yourself
• When you’ve discovered real truths about yourself – take action – even if you’re scared. Find an accountability buddy if you need or someone to try it with you.
• Celebrate the act of creativity even if the outcome was not what you wanted

I really hope this was helpful for someone. I am so honored for this little corner of the internet where we push ourselves to be better and inspire others to join. I know that 2023 I will be focusing a lot more on allowing myself to flourish creatively instead of tearing myself down. Interested in joining me but need a pep talk? My email and DMS are always open. I would love to dream with you about how you can start living more creatively in 2023.

Y’all I have lived in a lot of different places – probably moved more than 15 times in my life. When I was in high school I moved to Phenix City because my family was stationed at Fort Benning. I immediately fell in love with the Columbus /Phenix City area. This is where I met the absolute love of my life. This is where I realized there was more to life than corn fields – I know corny joke but I grew up in Nebraska. I moved away for College and grad school – and for some reason I keep coming back here – maybe because Columbus has felt like home to me. 

I think it’s human nature to find ourselves looking for the negative things about where we live because we are creatures looking out for our own safety at all times. And when we are constantly looking for those threats, we will find them. But I have decided this year to look for more good things and I have most certainly found them! Y’all there are so many people right here in Columbus Georgia that want to serve the community, want to bring knowledge and wellness to the people that live here, and want to make a difference. 

Ben Redding is the first person that comes to my mind. He planned a super fun and inspiring event in May called the Planty Pantry where multiple vendors gathered and sold their amazing products. There were many local artists and merch vendors as well as tons of vegan food options. Best of all there were people educating the greater Columbus Georgia area on how to consume more plant based foods and how to grow their own. 

A portion of the proceeds went to support The Food Mill, Mercy Med Farm, and UGROW INC -To assist the most food insecure areas of Columbus, Georgia. The aim is to help the folks in these communities learn how to eat in a way that fuels their bodies and show them how to grow or access nutritious food. Mercy Med and The Food Mill have a program designed to cook meals for people on a prescribed diet because food is medicine and what we put in our bodies counts. How cool is that!?!?

You can bet your buns when I was asked to photograph the event I said ABSOLUTELY!! Because out of all of the reasons to leave Columbus Georgia, this is the reason I stay. I love this community of people aiming to make our city a better place. I love the artists and small local businesses that want to earn a living by creating and inspiring others. I love the healers and the growers and all the people in between. This day absolutely opened my eyes to the goodness of what is right here in our city!

Below is a list of the vendors and a small album of photos I captured during the day. 

Mercy Med Farms | Sims Grown |  FlavoRite Vegan | The Bus Space | CeCe’s Jackfruit of All Trades | Verily Bakery | The Matcha Garden | BeeJou Kombucha | Plant Hustle Vegan Bakery | EMMetals | Isaac’s Kitchen | Glow + Behold Skin Care Studio | Earth Mama Medicine | The Bakeshop | River Flow Yoga | Big Oaks Pottery | Kari Goodwin Quilts | Ximena Rozo Design | Jordan’s Girls Vegan Dreams | Honey Hive Henna | Lucille’s Pantry | Bent By Courtney | Lavendar Tea and Picnics | Shade Tree Shroomery | The Golden Hour Co. | The Massage Whisperer | Full Circle Farm Sanctuary | Last Chance Endeavors | Conscious Culinary Coalition | Jay’s Cool Juices | BlueForest BlackMoon | Wholesale Wave of Georgia |LIVE MUSIC FROM THE ASTRO BAND + CARRIE WELLING

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Cirrus Gold is a Wedding Photography business based in Columbus Georgia and Phenix City Alabama area. We also do couples, engagements, business branding, and some family portraits. We are about to launch an entire drone video service so stay tuned for more information!