Why You Love to Create

Remind Yourself What You Love About Creating

Sometimes when we get lost in our worries that we have no talent or that our creativity has disappeared, we forget one of the main reasons we make things in the first place.

It’s fun. It feels good. And we love to do it.

Today, I want you to remember all the reasons that you love to make things and write them down.

Tack it to the bathroom mirror or slip it into your wallet. Pick one reason every day and meditate on it–even for a minute or two.

Just close your eyes and say the first part of the sentence when you breathe in, and then say the second part of the sentence when you exhale: (Breath in–”I feel most like myself” Breath out: “When I’m creating.” Breath in–”I feel most like myself” Breath out: “When I’m creating.”)

Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

Ready? I’ll start!

25 Reasons I Love to Make Things

1. I feel most like myself when I’m creating.
2. I feel connected to everything and everyone when I’m making things.
3. It feels good/right to use my hands.
4. I like that it feels like a physical activity somehow–not so ‘in my head.’
5. I’m very visual and I love looking at things.
6. Creating feeds my aesthetic emotion.
7. I love the feeling of “building” something when I’m creating.
8. I love the feeling of “listening” to my artwork.
9. I love how it feels when what I’m creating turns out the way I want.
10. I love how I feel when I am okay when it doesn’t turn out the way I want.
11. I love feeling excited about making things.
12. I love learning new techniques and acquiring new skills.
13. I love integrating new techniques into my projects.
14. I love solving design problems and thinking about formal elements–like line, color, composition, etc.
15. I love pulling different parts of myself, my thinking, & my sensibilities together into one work of art.
16. I love feeling like an artisan.
17. I love making things I use everyday.
18. I love feeling connected to the objects I’m making.
19. I love the hum of my sewing machine.
20. I love how I feel when I’m completely immersed in my projects.
21. I love talking about art with other people.
22. I love getting inspired by art in museums and galleries.
23. I love giving things I make to people I love.
24. I feel grounded when I’m creating.
25. I like making sense of the world through my creativity.

Okay–you’re turn! (And please share your list or portions of your list in the comments section below!)