How To Be a Happy and Creative Artist

Although each of us is different in who we are and what and how we create, there are key elements we need in place to be able to enjoy as creative and happy a life as possible. Here are the 7 most valuable:

1. Develop a habit of everyday creativity. At the core of all consistent creativity is a daily habit. Habit is your friend and once embraced, can bring more to your creative life than virtually any other single element. When you create for a minimum amount each and every day, creating becomes as natural and crucial a part of your day as eating, breathing and sleeping. Start with just 15 minutes a day at a time that works best for you, build the habit and watch your creativity flourish.
2. Be open to, and capture, ideas. All creativity begins with an idea. Without ideas you have nothing to develop, no direction in which to channel your creativity. Ideas are all around you, and by being open to this, you can catch them like raindrops in a tropical downpour. Ensure you capture all your ideas by keeping a notebook with you at all times - otherwise, even when great ideas come to you, you won't remember them and they'll disappear just as quickly.
3. Focus on your strengths. It's all too easy to look at others and wish "if only" you were as talented/creative/passionate as they are. If you're always looking at what you feel you haven't got, you'll never realize how uniquely gifted you are yourself. Make a list of all your creative strengths - your artistic skills as well as positive creative traits like being resourceful, determined, flexible or enthusiastic. The more you focus on your strengths, the more you'll use them, and the happier and more creative you'll become.
4. Acknowledge and celebrate your progress. Again, this is an awareness of how much you actually have going for you. Because you're with yourself 24 hours a day, it can be hard to stay objective about just how much you're developing as an artist. So have a monthly review of what you've created and look at the last 30 days, 90 days, 365 days. When you track your progress like this, you'll be impressed at how much you actually have been creating without giving yourself the credit you deserve.
5. Tame your inner critic. That negative and critical voice in your head that always tries to sabotage your creative efforts needn't be made out to be a terrifying demon. Behind all of your inner critic's apparent negativity is a positive motive - to keep you protected and safe from disappointment. Once you realize this, and tell your inner critic that you're grateful for its concern but you're going to carry on and be as creative as you can be anyway, that noisy and distracting chatter will subside to barely a background whisper.
6. Create what you love. All too often we can get caught up trying to create for other people. How often do you create what you think you SHOULD be creating or what your teacher/partner/parents/peers think you should be creating? Continue on this path and you'll never be fully happy with your creations. Think carefully about what YOU long to create, then follow those passions. If you create with love and passion, your work will reflect that and be the best you produce.
7. Share your creative life. The feeling that you're creating in a vacuum, where you're not sure if anyone even knows you create (let alone cares about what you're creating) can be soul destroying. Get in touch with other artists and share triumphs and struggles. These days there are more local and online creative communities than ever before. Try out a few today and experience the huge source of support, encouragement and artistic camaraderie these can bring.

These are 7 key steps to being as creative and happy an artist as you're truly capable of being.

Which of these steps most resonate with you as something that's missing from your creative life right now? You can change that today, by following the tips outlined. You owe it to yourself and to your present and future audience to be as creative as you can be!