Here are 10 Steps to inspire your creatively cultured lifestyle

Now more than ever we've seen an all time low in originality and creativity. It's not uncommon to see someone trying to copy your whole flow. They mimic style, mannerisms, personality and even down to your same words as well as someone making similar post right after you make them. Frankly speaking, it's super weird, tacky, invasive and unsophisticated.  One of the main reasons could be that many people are influenced by existing ideas, trends and media messaging. In this post I will explain the disadvantages of being a copycat and how you can truly be successful with building your own creatively cultured lifestyle that can increase your personal power, leading to more financial opportunities. The more you do it, it gets easier to develop new skills, ideas, meaningful relationships and explore new perspectives. 

Obsessive mirroring on the other hand can be detrimental to your own sense of identity and individuality. It can manifest feelings of insecurity, low self esteem, envy and jealousy which research has found to increase physical and emotional health problems. Now who wants to live with that? This is not uncommon to see on my socials either. Activating those negative stress hormones will overtime cause depression and weaken your immune system.

 A lack of creativity can lead to a form of  imposter syndrome.

 We've seen many interviews where successful individuals aren't even happy with their success and we might be thinking why? They have everything. But being unable to know your true, authentic self ultimately wears down your personal power. In my thirty years of being a hairstylist with a private salon suite, I've learned that money don't always buy happiness. If you don't do the inner work by the time you're in your thirties, that mid life crisis in your forties is going to be a beast! The good news is, we all have our own unique journey to discover our true identity and if we're doing it right we will be continually  evolving to better versions of ourselves. 

In my opinion, what leads to stagnation and a lack of growth in individuals and their business are relying too much on mantras like "don't reinvent the wheel" making it easier to copy or draw inspiration from existing works rather than conceptualizing something completely new and original. That  lack of creativity can lead to a form of  imposter syndrome.

Creativity is a key factor in developing an overall sense of self-esteem and self-worth

Perfectionistic Imposter syndrome can be triggered by the fear of not being able to perform or produce something up to the standards one has set for themselves or required by others. It's possible that a lack of originality and innovation can cause this fear, as it can get difficult to be creative when you don't have the personal tools to be resourceful or skills to do so. I am here to remind you that everyone has unique gifts, talents and skills that need to be uncovered or nurtured. 

 Creativity is a key factor in developing an overall sense of self-esteem and self-worth. Start by taking time to reflect on your interest, values and aspirations. Focus on identifying the things that make your heart light up. What makes you feel most alive? By understanding yourself better, you can cultivate a sense of personal power and purpose, which can help you to reveal your own authenticity and avoid an identity crisis. It can be difficult to feel empowered when you're not sure of your own identity. 

Without creativity, it's difficult to come up with original ideas or solve problems in new and unique ways. It can lead to stagnation and a lack of growth, both in individuals and organizations. Additionally, creativity can lead to an increased sense of happiness, satisfaction, and meaning in life, so its absence can have a detrimental effect on mental and emotional wellbeing. Finally, a lack of creativity can lead to a lack of confidence, which can have a significant impact on people's ability to express themselves and share their ideas.

  10 Steps to inspire your own original and creative ideas that lead to a more cultured lifestyle... 

1. Get out of your comfort zone and explore new ideas. Researching online, attending seminars, joining discussions, joining clubs or organizations like Toast Masters in my personal experience really progressed my  brainstorming skills as well as allowed me to listen to others perspectives, looking at the world in different ways. I'm not here to promote a Toast Masters group but if you find a really good one, it's like having a master mind therapy session, in my opinion. 
2. Listening to others who have different perspectives than you with an open mind is away to develop a more broad understanding of the world around us. Doesn't mean you have to become like them or do what they do. It's simply being apart of the human experience. When People with different backgrounds and opinions come together to discuss ideas or ways of being, it leads to more creative solutions and open-mindedness. Also, it encourages our own development with tapping into our own uniqueness. Collaboration can be incredibly valuable to create a creative culture and spark innovation.  
3. Take a break from social media, technology and getting outdoors to inspired by nature. This is why I love surfing so much. It forces you to be present and in the moment. Many times we are thinking of the past or in the future or thinking to much. Being in nature balances the mind, a great way to recharge and ignite creativity. Being surrounded by the beauty of nature can help us to reconnect with our innermost thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Taking a hike in nature, chilling by a river or lake, sitting under a tree meditating or simply spending time outdoors walking through the neighborhood early in the morning  or gardening can all help to inspire creative ideas. Nature provides us with a peaceful and calming environment, which helps to reduce stress and clear our minds. This can help to open our minds to new ideas and perspectives, allowing creativity to flow.
4. Create something new and unexpected. Journaling is an excellent way to do this. Write down anything that comes to mind no matter how silly it might sound. Decide what you want to achieve with your brainstorming and write it down.  Gathering resources, notes, collecting anything that might be inspiring. Ask yourself questions, explore different answers. Curiosity in this way can lead to more unique methods and innovation. If you need something with guided tools to catapult you faster in this process then the 90 Day Journal for Creatives and Lifestyle Entrepreneurs is an excellent methodology that have strategies for you to plan, prepare, problem-solve, protect your time and scale profits while building a purposeful life. 
5. Read books on other cultures by People who are native to that specific culture speaking in their own narratives.  Watch documentaries, movies and observe other forms of art. 
6. Challenge yourself to come up with unique solutions to your everyday problems utilizing the different categories of emotional intelligence. Exploring different solutions is an important factor to propelling success. 
7. Share time with people who inspire and motivate you. Making sure you are emanating  good vibes and having positive language is a healthy exchange to not wear them down in conversation.  Sidenote* No one wants to keep spending time with individuals who suck at their energy like a vampire. Develop your self awareness and practice mindfulness keeping the tone positive, if your goal is to spark creativity.  Just because an individual seems to exude a lot of balance and positivity doesn't mean they are ready to listen to someone else's baggage. If you're feeling depressed or sad those low vibes can change the whole frequency, please seek therapy or a life coach. They have them online now so no excuses dumping your isssh onto others who may not be in the mood to take it on. 
8. Set a time for creative activities and hobbies. This is where you ask yourself what makes your heart light up? It brings a great sense of gratitude and wellbeing. 
9. Learn the origins, research the different ways to do them. Find out the why you're attracted to this particular thing can help to discover new passions, talents and feel  more connected to ourselves and the world around us. Doing creative activities and learning new hobbies can be a tremendously rewarding experience that can produce an abundance of gratitude and overall sense of wellbeing. 
   
10. Last but not least, Take risk, have fun and don't be afraid to fail. Stepping out of our comfort zone to explore new ideas, opportunities and experiences can help us gain incredible knowledge skills and confidence resulting in increasing our self-awareness and helping to build our relationship capital with others. Taking calculated risk helps us to gain insight into our own strengths and weaknesses, discovering more about ourselves. We open up new pathways for success as it helps us to develop new skills, resourcefulness and we learn from our mistakes. Ultimately leading to greater opportunity for personal growth. 

A creatively cultured lifestyle deepens the richness of our life experiences and an inclusive environment.  Read this Blog to see the benefits of being a creatively cultured traveler https://www.creativelycultured.com/2023/01/tips-on-being-creatively-cultured.html