Fulfilling your childhood dreams and finding happiness.
When I was younger, I didn’t really want to be an astronaut or an actress or anything really out there (and exciting), I didn’t do dress up and pretend to be someone famous or heroic. My dreams as a child were a lot simpler, my career dreams were to be a teacher and a writer.
I loved the idea of being a teacher, helping people in learning and moving forward. I have always loved helping and explaining, I’ve always had a very strong nurturing side, and this fitted perfectly with my idea of teaching. As an adult I realise that the reality of teaching children is probably very different, lots of paperwork, stress and underfunding, and a lot less connecting with people.
In many ways I am able to reach that childhood dream now, I support my clients, leveraging my nurturing instincts and teaching systems or processes where needed. I have developed a training course that shares my knowledge after 6 years in corporate marketing and 10 years in SME marketing. I am always up for a coffee and a chat, a chance to help others. I do feel that that original goal has been met in ways I did not expect, and I love how fulfilling that feels.
Writing was different, this was something I did all the time. It reminds me a of a quote from the Sister Act 2: “If you wake up in the morning and you can’t think of anything but singing first, then you’re supposed to be a singer, girl.”, it’s off the back of something more famous but I can’t remember what… might go and watch the film again actually.
Back to my point, I literally wrote all the time – mostly poetry and prose but also short stories. I have had poetry published and won competitions with it, although that was when I was younger. I’ve found as I’ve got older that I write less – time pressures, lack of inspiration, too much medication for my mental health. I’m not the constantly-turned-on tap that I was but I know that creativity is still in me.
When I was in my corporate role, I was Creative Manager, and I had a navigational sign over my head that just said ‘Creative’. I always loved that sign, wish I’d ‘borrowed’ it.
Since coming out of survival mode and putting my energy into this business that I love that creativity has been coming back out – ideas, social media campaigns, poetry, prose and even the book that I’ve written and had published (I’m an Amazon number one best seller, don’t ya know!)
I know now that creativity is integral to who I am, and writing was just my way to express that. I wouldn’t say that I’m the best writer in the world, but I will say that I pour all of my love and personality into everything I create. Well, maybe not so much when I’m working on a client website for mortuary equipment, they don’t need my level of uber-fun personality!
I am ridiculously grateful that I get to live my childhood dreams in so many different ways every single day and I think that’s part of the reason I love what I do so much.
There are other benefits too, which for someone with mental health issues like me are fantastic. Creativity has a ridiculous amount of health benefits including:
Increased mood
Decreased anxiety
Heightened cognitive function
Reduced risk of chronic illnesses
Improved immune health
Improved mental flexibility
Better physical health
Better ability to handle life’s challenges
Stronger social relationships
Reduced risk of developing dementia and age-related cognitive decline.
It may be the reason that I stopped listening to the voice in my head that told me it was an ‘old lady hobby’ and started doing cross stitch again (it’s a bi-monthly subscription box and I highly recommend it).
Running your own business can be hard, especially if you’re a running a small business by yourself, you end up having to wear all the hats which makes you time poor and overly stressed so it makes sense that creativity of any kind takes a back seat.
I think a lot of time it’s why areas like marketing and copywriting are so hard for small business owners, their brains are so full of all the things they have to do that there is no room to let them roam free and find the inspiration they need.
Opening yourself up to creativity can support more creativity.
Opening yourself up to your childhood dreams can be even more satisfying, imagine drawing on the hopes of your little self and giving that beautiful child everything they need and want… that road is the path to happiness.