Colour your world UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY

Ready to show off your hidden talent? New Zealand artist Jen Sievers demonstrates how to embrace playfulness and live a joyous life

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So many people are brought up believing that because they don't write, create art, sing or dance, they're not creative.

Society often has a limited view of what creativity is. It's been sold to us as a rare and unusual talent - something bestowed on the lucky few, rather than a quality inherent in every human.

However, you only have to think of everything we humans have created (some good, some not so good), and it's clear that we are an incredibly creative species, capable of conceptualising and innovating in all facets of life. The way we build, cook, garden, code, decorate and even organise our lives are all creative acts. Broadening our view of creativity not only helps us embrace our unique strengths, it can create an immense amount of joy in our lives.

Creativity and play are intrinsically linked. The purest moments of creativity feel like play and can open us up to beautiful flow states.

A flow state, particularly in the context of creativity, is a deeply immersive mental state where you're fully absorbed and engaged in the activity at hand. When we experience flow, we feel a profound sense of focus and enjoyment. Time seems to blur and self-consciousness fades.

Creativity, at its essence, is problem-solving in many different forms. It's how we find novel solutions and come up with new ways of doing things - whether that's sculpting a masterpiece, fixing an issue at work or finding a new way to relate to our children. If the idea of being creative feels intimidating or out of your comfort zone, try implementing “micro moments” of creativity. You don't need to take up watercolour painting or grow a show garden - you can start simple. Doodle, journal or go rogue with your usual dinner recipes. Perhaps your creative heart yearns to rearrange the furniture or colour-code your bookshelf. All of these small creative actions are opportunities for you to tap into joy and express yourself.