I was just uploading the photos I took of Miss Kitty when it occurred to me that my cats are far less limited than I in their approach to life’s adventures. For them, each moment consists of endless possibilities. A box or a fruit bowl, as you can see in the pictures, simply offer creative opportunities. A leaf landing on the grass becomes a fascinating toy, and a dripping faucet turns into a splashing water fountain. They definitely put into practice what Lewis Carroll describes in his poem:

What about us, you and me? How often do you look at life with a squint? Or do you find yourself caught in habitual patterns that remain largely unobserved? Perhaps you observe them, but you don’t consider yourself creative enough to make a change? Intellectually, I am convinced that life is full of infinite possibilities. And yet, how often do I get myself stuck by sticking with the same routines and the same old way of thought or behaviour, by not squinting at life differently?

Maybe you question the validity or benefit of such an approach to life? Why bother? Well, I’ve come to the conclusion that we get to know ourselves, our essence, our relationships and the world much better when we are courageous enough to dig deeper. Surprises and mystery emerge as we delve into the creative process.

Granted, the digging may confront us with our fears and darkness that tend to lie hidden behind the normal, habitual and rule-bound behaviours we have learned, adopted and assumed most often in an unexamined manner. Therefore, I’m encouraging you here, just for a few moments, to shift your position a bit. Begin to look at life with a squint, Lewis Carroll suggests. Find a different angle or ask a question. It’s an art and a skill you may wish to cultivate and practice because you deserve to live into the possibilities that emerge when we we experiment. "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better," suggests Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Wait a second, you may say! ‘I don’t feel particularly adventurous or creative.’ Creativity is what others possess!

Is that so? That’s how I thought of myself for many years, and, I have to admit, I still catch myself in that mindset from time to time. I’ve come to understand and appreciate, though, that the reason for such unproductive, and often self-destructive thinking results from a deeply skewed perception of what creativity means. I suppose I was waiting for the moment when that light bulb would go on, for the Eureka moment, or however else you want to think of it. I was waiting for an idea or a concept to grab my attention and consume me until I had given expression to that idea. Although I know now that creativity can and does take hold of us that way in some circumstances, this rather expressive notion portrays only a small percentage of the entire picture.

I’ve come to appreciate the simple definition of creativity that the writer and philosopher Rollo May provides: “Creativity is the process of bringing something new into being.” What a succinct description! So, Miss Kitty brought something new into being: both the fruit bowl and the cardboard box, which she also filled with her catnip pillows, became a safe haven, a playground and bed for her.

How do we bring something new into being? We don’t need to write the new Canadian - or American - bestseller of the month. Rather, let’s continue with the idea of ‘Discovering the Extra in the Ordinary’. We can stimulate the process of creation–not only creative thinking but also creatively being–by small shifts in our approach to daily living. Because creativity is a skill, we get more adept as we practice and learn to transfer our new insights and skills into other areas of our being.

Start by observing yourself and your habits. Pick one or two of your established patterns. What might happen, for example, if you decided to drive or walk to work or the gym or to your kids’ school along new routes? Of course, it means you will need to let go of the certainty first that you will be just as fast as on your old route. But just imagine what you might gain! You might discover, for instance, a magnificent garden or meet a new person.

Here is another simple example, how about you use your non-dominant hand to wash the dishes or brush your teeth? You might start laughing at your clumsiness, but what else might be happening? Where could it lead you? It’s important to remember, though, that you will need to stay committed to the new way of engagement in the chosen activity for a while to see the possibilities emerge.

Let’s choose a different scenario. You engage in a conversation with a friend. You bring your entire being to the moment and listen. Instead of offering advice or a comment to a situation she recounts, how about you simply pose a question, an open-ended question, focused and non-judgmental, that would allow both of you to consider the situation in a new light?

After all, “creativity is the quality that you bring to the activity that you are doing. It is an attitude, an inner approach–how you look at things,” according to Osho, and I whole-heartedly agree. So, if I pick a few flowers from my garden, arrange them in a vase and enjoy the view, isn’t that the result of a creative activity? How about cooking, cleaning, gardening, or tidying up the house? Change some of your routines and break the ‘rules!’ Experiment and see what happens! Encourage yourself to shed new light on familiar aspects of your day!

I invite you to ‘Discover the Extra in the Ordinary’ by stimulating your own creative juices. Remember that creativity flourishes with practice, passion and commitment. Look at life with a squint. After all, “There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.” – Buckminster Fuller

Please note: Visit my website for further reflections on the topic. In the upcoming newsletter 'From the Insight Out," I will broaden the discussion of perception. Stay tuned. As always, I welcome your comments and enjoy your sharing with all of us.