Creativity and Humor

Creativity - using the imagination. Creativity and humor are related resiliencies. Both are safe harbors of the imagination, refuges where experiences can be rearranged to one's own liking. Both begin in children with playing - using the imagination to make a world that conforms to one's own wishes. In adolescents both mature into shaping - using art and comedy to give aesthetic form to one's innermost feelings and thoughts. In adults, creativity matures into composing - serious artistic endeavors, and humor becomes laughing - the capacity to make something out of nothing, to minimize pain with a joke.

Humor - finding the comic in the tragic. An offshoot of creativity, humor also begins with playing, grows into shaping, and matures into laughing - the capacity to see the absurdity in one's own pains and troubles. --Drs. Steven and Sybil Wolin, Project Resilience

We don't often think about being creative or finding humor in tragic events. This characteristic of resiliency really divides the resilient from the non-resilient. Creativity is often born out of adversity. It is also best found in connecting with THE CREATOR. Being CENTERED in the Father of Creation is the place to begin. Julia Cameron in her book, The Artist Way describes creativity as "spiritual electricity." Although she would probably be described by most as being "New Age," I believe her concept of where our creativity comes from is right on. The following are her ten BASIC PRINCIPLES:

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy; pure creative energy.
2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life--including ourselves.
3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator's creativity within us and our lives.
4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.
5. Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.
6. The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.
7. We we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction.
8. As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.
9. It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.
10. Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.