Like many do this time of year I’ve been reflecting on the last year, and my use of creative affirmations. One of the things I noticed was when I put my creativity first, my entire day was in the flow. Meaning when I took the time to design, sew, collect special fabrics or make a small amount of progress on a project at the beginning of the day, the rest of my day felt lighter and brighter. I handled challenges with ease, and joy was easier to find in everyday interactions with my husband and kids. The other days…I don’t want to dwell on it, but things seemed harder.

Creative Affirmation: I make space in my life to explore my creativity.

Creative Affirmation

I make space in my life to explore my creativity.

So often, I put myself last. I choose to fulfill everyone else’s needs and then my own. This can result in me not making time to be creative, which in turn puts a damper on my creative flow. Is this sounding familiar at all?

This year I have pledged to put myself first and make time for my creativity, and I want to share this with you. My creative community! Each week I will have a new creative affirmation to consider as I go through the week to empower me and my creativity. And YOU and your creativity.

There’s so much that we don’t control in our lives, but we can CHOOSE the way we look at and respond to all that life brings us. I choose to approach each day with my best foot forward, by putting myself first. 

Creative Affirmation: I make space in my life to explore my creativity.

Some of you might feel this is selfish or unreasonable for your specific circumstances. I challenge you to find a different way of looking at the situation; filling my cup first, allows me to have better and more meaningful interactions with those around me. Filling my cup first does mean getting an earlier start on my day. Knowing that this is a season with my teens and not forever helps me adjust my alarm without resentment. We get to choose our interpretation of our circumstances and decide to approach each day. Will you look at it with promise and excitement or defeat and overwhelm. YOU decide!

Where does your creativity fall in your schedule? Do you have it scheduled, or just fit it in when you can? 

Finally, as a quilter, I always lean into quilting. However, this applies to everyone no matter where you find your creativity. I firmly believe that we are all creative and have our unique form of creativity. It’s our responsibility to use it and cultivate it, and doing so creates a happy, fulfilled outlook in our day-to-day life. 

So what are you doing today to be creative? Drop me a note in the comments and share your creative outlet – I would love to know! 

Xo – Amy

Quilt details:

Comfort Quilt

The pattern is found in my book Modern Heritage Quilts

Pieced and quilted by me

Made with a scrappy mix of fabrics.