{"id":4514,"date":"2015-11-24T17:11:44","date_gmt":"2015-11-25T00:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/\/?p=4514"},"modified":"2023-03-22T10:11:20","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T10:11:20","slug":"the-best-way-to-find-your-creativit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/the-best-way-to-find-your-creativit\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Way to Find Your Creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"

I felt at a bit of a loss how best to support my twin girls when they auditioned, and both got accepted to a high school for the arts (majoring in musical theatre) this year. I just hoped it would be an\u00a0environment that allowed them to develop\u00a0their creativity.<\/p>\n

At one time, I would not have considered\u00a0an arts school for my children.<\/p>\n

I grew up with a strong belief that sciences were more important than the arts. My parents are both medical doctors. The arts was considered\u00a0impractical, and\u00a0a hobby only, not a career. I could see\u00a0why.<\/p>\n

My bigger fear – what if only one of them gets accepted?<\/h2>\n

We read the first email together. \u00a0“Congratulations Leah…” \u00a0I held my breath before opening the second email praying for the same words for Makayla. It’s what they both wanted.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, they\u00a0were jumping up, and down, hugging, screaming, and crying. I was still in shock. Competition was fierce with a\u00a020% acceptance rate, and part of me wondered “is this best for them?”<\/p>\n

Now I no longer knew the way. I could help with reading and math, but the Arts? I recalled a highly recommended classic – “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron that was sitting on my shelf for years waiting to be cracked open. I still thought of \u00a0‘artists’ in the traditional sense – painting, writing, music, dance etc.And, I assumed this book was about discovering that<\/em> kind<\/em> of\u00a0inner artist,\u00a0which felt\u00a0unfamiliar to me\u00a0–\u00a0or was it?<\/p>\n

When I took a closer read of the front cover: A\u00a0Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, <\/strong><\/em>I almost fell off my chair. I’d been teaching my children spirituality ever since I became a life coach in 2009. Now I knew how they got in with barely any experience in the “triple threat” of musical theatre: dancing, singing, and drama.<\/p>\n

Our conversations over the years had changed from\u00a0me telling them what to do, to me becoming a better listener, getting them to follow their passions, and sharing more authentically. I slowed down, and got curious about where they were coming from when\u00a0they over-reacted or wouldn’t listen. I\u00a0gave them a new space to show up being who they are<\/strong>, and they rose up to meet me.<\/p>\n

They\u00a0remind me to please stop what I’m doing:\u00a0“mom – you are not looking at me face to face!” They\u00a0make sure\u00a0I’m present<\/strong> when they want to talk to me. Ugh.. : )<\/p>\n

I’d been\u00a0encouraging one thing: connect with what resonates with you, and follow it. Give everything your best effort. Don’t bother comparing or looking at the odds. Take some risks if it’s something you want, and even if you feel disappointed – what you will have gained just trying will be well worth it.<\/p>\n

“The Artist’s Way” is\u00a0a 12 step\u00a0program of discovering your creative self. \u00a0Each chapter includes insightful exercises with\u00a0a commitment to 2 key practices:<\/p>\n