Are you stuck in a rut, feeling frustrated, disappointed, and perhaps isolated?

Do you find yourself thinking: “This isn’t the life I expected to live. Where did I go wrong?”

Do you sometimes hear your instincts whispering in your ear the reminder that you’re meant to be experiencing a richer life, embracing who you’re meant to be?

Of course you’d like to embrace who you’re meant to be but you don’t know how.

What if I told you that there are creative tips that can enable you to lead a richer life?

Reading this article is a good first step in opening to the possibility of changing how you live.

But the truth is this.

The only way to make long lasting changes within yourself is through working at changing your limiting beliefs. At the same time, it is critical to make positive bite size changes in your behaviors.

10 Creative Tips For Leading A Richer Life

1. Embrace Your Creativity: Let go of feeling “not creative enough.”

So many of us have been brainwashed into believing that we’re not creative. Without even realizing it, we shy away from creative endeavors or ideas and only involve ourselves in projects within our comfort zones. This is the thing—you can’t change your behaviors for the long haul unless you change your thoughts.

You might want to check out this article: How to Gain Confidence and Discover your Big Creative Self

2. Practice Getting To Know Your Creative Self

Here’s an effective exercise. In the morning, immediately after you wake up, stand in front of a large mirror and look yourself straight in the eyes. You may initially find yourself averting your eyes—that’s natural. Just keep making eye contact with yourself. Remind the person that you are looking at that they are a very creative soul. I like using phrases like: “Good Morning, you beautiful creative soul!” or “Today I’m going to fill my the world beauty, kindness, and love.”Feel the words when you say them.

Take as much time as you need to become comfortable gazing at yourself. There’s no rush here.

3. Write A Positive Affirmation About Your Creative Spirit Every Day

Put it in your cell phone, or write it down on a piece of paper and keep it close to you. Read and repeat the affirmation at least 5 times a day.

A few that I use are:
“My purpose on this earth is to design a life of connection, creativity, and well-being.
“I’m so grateful that I have the ability to create anything a rich, connected, and meaningful life.”

Make up your own. Just writing these personal affirmations helps to ignite your creativity.

4. Develop A Morning Routine

Set aside time early in the morning, even if it’s only 15 minutes, to clear your head with some spiritual reading, writing, meditation, listening to music, dancing, playing a musical instrument, or belting out some songs. Do something that gives your soul nutrition and enables you to continue with your day feeling more alive and grounded.

You might want check out this article: How A Morning Routine Can Jump Start Your Creativity

5. Don’t Let Your Inner Critic Take Control

When you hear the self-critical voice saying negative things, gently set it aside and repeat your positive affirmations or focus on a happy moment that you’ve experienced recently or from earlier times.

One of my techniques is to keep a list of joyful and/or creative moments in a notebook on my desk. That way, I have them at my disposal when needed.

6. Get Into The State of Flow

Flow is a term coined by positive psychologist, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. He describes flow as the mental state of “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”

Abraham Maslow called it peak experience, Carl Rogers called it self-actualization, and Joseph Campbell described this state of consciousness as rapture.

Flow is about being present, being in the moment.

Practice getting into the state of flow by doing something that you love: playing a musical instrument, listening to music, reading, writing, preparing a meal, gardening, dancing, singing, yoga, running, meditating, or working on mathematical formulas (if you love mathematics)!

You might want to check out an article I wrote called: 5 Strategies for Feeling The Rapture of Being Alive

7. Create A Sacred Space At Home

You don’t have to re-design an entire room or garden—although if you feel so inclined, do so.

Try your hand at creating a sacred space by arranging a few meaningful items on a coffee table—some candles, flowers, sea shells, stones. Anything that brings you pleasure and infuses that space with a sense of beauty and a feeling of being your special spot where you can reflect and ‘just be’ is perfect.

In the garden, find a shady, quiet spot and place a comfortable bench or wooden chair there. Add a small sculpture, a side table with a few meaningful objects on it, and any plantings that will make you feel like it’s your personal haven. I love using perennial grasses because of the sound they make when there is the slightest breeze.

8. Play

Play is creativity at work. It’s an attitude, a spirit, a point of view, and most of all, a way of life—a way of being. It’s a commitment to finding the true joy in any act with little or no concern about the outcome.

Practice being playful in conversations with your children, spouse, friends, and with whomever you come into contact with when doing errands. Rather than asking the regular questions, like “How was your day?” or “What’s new?”, try something like, “Tell me 3 terrific things that happened at school (or work) today.”

Like everything else, the more you practice, the better you’ll get at it.

9. Trust Your Instincts

When you hear your instincts whispering in your ear, listen up.

All too often, people tend to disregard their instincts as something frivolous or even imaginary. Don’t. Take them seriously. They’re one of your greatest allies.

Your instincts are the most basic impulses formed by your essential nature. When you trust and follow your instincts, you’re living authentically. You’re making choices that are aligned with who you are, for better or for worse.

10. Surround Yourself With Creative People

Hanging out with folks with creative interests will invigorate and inspire you.

If you’re wondering where to find them, check out lectures at museums and cultural centers, frequent jazz and comedy clubs, take a pottery, sculpture, or writing course, go to poetry readings, or join a local garden club. If you live close to a city, spend time there. Urban areas are overflowing with creative energy.

If you enjoyed this article, please share with others social media. Generosity is a powerful way of making a positive difference in the world! – xo-Fran