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It’s not all about the cupcakes…

My neighbour asked about the creativity course.  “Oh” she said, her brow furrowing “I thought it would involve things like decorating cupcakes”.

A popular misconception about creativity is that it’s something you do in your spare time as a hobby, or after you have retired from ‘real work’.

There are two things wrong with this.

1. That it’s a ‘doing’ thing rather than a ‘thinking’ thing.

2. That it’s an indulgence rather than a necessity.

In the modern age, we’ve become obsessed with productivity.  “What do you do?” is often the first question we ask people to establish some form of connection/conversation. Just as “Did you do anything nice at the weekend?” Is usually the first question people ask on a Monday morning.

We do earnest things all week then we reward ourselves with more pleasant but equally productive doings at the weekend.

In this scenario, creativity is an exalted form of doing. When in reality it is an exalted form of thinking.

The difference between humans and animals is that humans can imagine new things. Animals can only see what is already here. Their behaviour is entirely predicated on what has happened in the past.

Evolution endowed humans with a creative spirit.  But many humans haven’t yet realised that consciousness has moved on, so they live a fear filled existence about ‘what might happen’.

Some super smart humans have capitalised on this fear and risen to the top of the food chain. They have domesticated the animals by feeding them – fast food, the Daily Mail and car crash TV.

Only a wake up call to the creative spirit can change this reality.

The super smart humans of the past, knew this so they came up with a cunning plan.  They took the word Spirit and turned it into Spiritual. Then they turned spirituality into religion. No more threats. They knew that when the “wake up call” happened the people would be even more docile, accepting a reality that was imposed upon them for the deferred gratification of an eternity in heaven.

But what if the word Spirit had been turned into Spirited?

A spirited child is usually seen as a naughty child, one that needs containing, or disciplining. Usually it just means they have a lot of energy – some of which can’t be handled by the humans who just want them to fit in – to be a good boy/girl.

But what if God didn’t care whether people were good or bad. What if God merely wanted them to be spirited.

The definition of “Spirited” is… Full of energy, enthusiasm and determination.

What could we collectively generate if we had that running through our veins? What world problems could we solve? What new realities could we create?

A cup cake?

Seriously?

4 Comments

  1. Noël Theodosiou says:

    Hi Eleanor I am loving these posts ­ I’m sure your workshop will be amazing. I’d love to talk to you about it and learn moreŠ I am in the USA right now ­ my father has bladder cancer which is frequently recurring so I have been helping out. I’ll be in London in August and we have a “make-up” coffee anyway to do! Are you around in August to get together? Best to you, Noël Noël Theodosiou UK +44 7962 506 281 US +1 203 434 5571

    @noelatheo http://www.luminous-ltd.com

    From: Eleanor O’Rourke Reply-To: Eleanor O’Rourke Date: Monday, 22 July 2013 09:13 To: Administrator Subject: [New post] It¹s not all about the cupcakesŠ

    WordPress.com Eleanor O’Rourke posted: “My neighbour asked about the creativity course. ³Oh² she said, her brow furrowing ³I thought it would involve things like decorating cupcakes². A popular misconception about creativity is that it¹s something you do in your spare time as a hobby, or after”

  2. JonTreanor says:

    Sorry darling, got VM, tied in meetings in Ireland, back in London after weekend as staying to golf! Si is 1st August; 3.30pm any good?

    So sorry we keep missing, much love xxx Jon Treanor

    Executive Mentor Mobile: +44 (0)7787 513 205 Email: jon@jontreanor.com Web: http://www.jontreanor.com [cid:E0C5D6E2-EE74-423D-A5D3-FD99F4BA1F68] http://www.linkedin.com/in/jontreanor [cid:E5D6A51C-D6EF-4916-B90C-43433A0AF2B3]@mindfulchap

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    Jon Treanor Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 08213845. Registered office: 138-144 London Road Wheatley Oxford OX33 1JH.

    From: Eleanor O’Rourke <comment-reply@wordpress.com> Reply-To: Eleanor O’Rourke <comment+7e3czwtnnovv00lm2q8zn@comment.wordpress.com> Date: Monday, 22 July 2013 14:13 To: Jon Treanor <jon@jontreanor.com> Subject: [New post] It’s not all about the cupcakes…

    Eleanor O’Rourke posted: “My neighbour asked about the creativity course. “Oh” she said, her brow furrowing “I thought it would involve things like decorating cupcakes”. A popular misconception about creativity is that it’s something you do in your spare time as a hobby, or after”

  3. Sarah B Demers says:

    Loved this blog…am approaching today with spirit, with creativity, with energy!

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