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As I sit here, waiting to board my plane to Portland to see my brother, I think about creativity and all that it entails. Is it really something that can be defined? Science has had a difficult time being “scientific” with much of the creative process, as we know it. Is creativity something that can happen in the spur of the moment? I believe so. I believe that happens more than we realize.

Take the application, Instagram, for instance. This one application has revolutionized the way in which people interact with each other, but also displays their creativity to the world. You don’t have to be a well-known photographer, a fashion designer, or a world-renowned filmmaker to be noticed on Instagram. What I mean is, Instagram pushes the envelope for everyone and anyone. Take my own story for instance- by trade I am a visual story teller (a fancy term for videographer) and a writer. I dabbled in photography about three years ago when I first found my passion for multimedia, but after trial and error figured out that digital and film photography maybe was not for me. I found my passion in video (also referred to as film). Then came Instagram, which at the time did not have video capabilities. My first post was a terrible lo-fi filtered picture of the end of a guitar. Over time, I found other Instagrammers whose work I loved and grabbed bits and pieces from what they did and made it my own. That application has stretched me in creative ways more than I could have imagined. I now notice different light settings. I notice different scenery. I appreciate the outdoors. I love portraits. All because of the application known as Instagram, I now have a love for so many things I did not have before.

It also taught me to live in the moment. Sometimes beautiful pictures and moments are not planned. It has taught me not to take life so seriously. That does not mean life isn’t serious; it just means to find beauty in the simple things. Value the face-to-face interactions you have as well as the digital interactions. Everyone has a story to tell. Listen to their story. I promise you will find value and wonderful lessons throughout life if you will just listen to people and reflect. Reflecting allows our minds to find that value.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard

In an article titled, “Nurturing Creativity” by allpsychologycareers.com, the writer gives some great advice on how to nurture our creative thinking. I believe the advice given from this article ties into what I mentioned about reflecting.

“Schedule some quiet time each day, every couple of days, or once a week if that is all that’s possible. Just breathe, daydream, or doodle. Turn off all electronic devices and just relax.”

This week I challenge you to sit back, relax, and reflect on your surroundings, your relationships, your passions, and your dreams. Seek out new ways in which you can enrich those relationships. Seek out well-known people in your field of work and see what they are doing that you might could do as well.

How will you find beauty in the simple moments this week? In what ways will you make an effort to examine life and the world around you?

If you would like to know more about Instagram, find me at: @thevincerussell