S. G. from Chicago, Illinois asked, "Why does my creativity seem sluggish?"

Dear S,

Creativity seems to wax and wane naturally, but if your creativity has had a long period of silence, you may look at what you’ve been feeding it.

Just as every cell in your body needs nourishment, so does your creativity. And if you’ve been feeding it “junk food,” you can expect it to be sluggish! Nutrition for creativity is a variety of information, sights, sounds, tastes, textures, emotions, and experiences. The more you take in, the easier it is to put ideas together that may not seem logical to put together.

If you’ve been feeding your creativity well, you may want to look at rest and relaxation. Whether it is simply stopping for few minutes to do something different, like taking a walk, or sleeping more each night or getting a massage, sometimes a tense body can get in the way of creative thinking. Rest must also be a regular part of your life to keep the creative flow going.

Thanks for asking!  Lynnette Schuepbach

Lynnette is an author/illustrator who sees creativity in every aspect of life. To find out more about her and creativity, visit her Web site KidsDoRead.com.  Her children’s books create curiosity in children and speak to sibling rivalry and bullying.

Lynnette serves as chair of Art in the Park on the second weekend of October at the Lindendale Park in Highland. Many local artists will be exhibiting there. It’s her pleasure to be a part of this opportunity for you to experience “World Class Art in a Hometown Atmosphere.” More info at www.highlandartscouncil.org.

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