Happiness Jars and the Unexpected Muse of Gratitude
One of the things I committed to doing a few years ago was starting a happiness jar. If you haven’t come across the concept, it’s very simple: the idea is that you find a big old jar and every day, you find at least one thing to be happy about, even on the bleakest of days, and write it on a scrap of paper and pop it into the jar.
At the end of the year, you’ll have 365 reasons you were happy, and at any point during the year, you can pull one out at random and remind yourself of a particular moment and perhaps raise your spirits. I found the idea from Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame who has written about them in depth as to helping her write.
I thought it would be a fun thing to try and also a way to provide yourself with some random stimuli for personal or work-related projects too. If you’re stumped creatively, you could pull out one (or many) of your reasons to be cheerful and see if you can use it to stimulate an idea.
You can also fill it with other things that make you happy—maybe a ticket stub from a gig or the theatre or a handwritten note from your kids. Anyway, it’s free, positive, and something I’ve never done before, which is also good for creativity, so I’m going to give it a go!
What I have gotten better at since then is being thankful for small things, as well as celebrating the big milestones. I do this every night before bed—recognizing three things that have gone well that day. It might be enjoying breakfast with my son, having a productive phone conversation with someone, getting out for a walk at lunchtime through to the big things like finishing a chapter of a book I’m writing or working with a great new client.
I also do this with my son at nighttime to try to get his day into perspective too.
The Science of Gratitude and the Spark of Creativity
With so much being written about self-care, being grateful can work on many different levels. In an article in Psychology Today, seven reasons to be grateful are given:
- Gratitude improves physical health.
- Gratitude improves psychological health.
- Gratitude opens the door to more relationships.
- Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression.
- Grateful people sleep better.
- Gratitude increases mental strength.
- Gratitude improves self-esteem.
These are all fantastic reasons to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, but there’s another benefit that I’ve found particularly potent: gratitude is a powerful muse for creativity.
How Gratitude Boosts Creativity
Here’s why:
- Gratitude shifts your focus from lack to abundance. When you’re focused on what you’re grateful for, you naturally start to see the good things in your life. This positive mindset opens up your mind to new possibilities and helps you see the potential for creativity in everything around you.
- Gratitude makes you more optimistic. Grateful people are more likely to believe that good things are possible,which is essential for taking risks and trying new things. This willingness to experiment is key to coming up with innovative ideas.
- Gratitude increases your capacity for joy. When you’re feeling joyful, you’re naturally more energetic and engaged. This increased energy can fuel your creative endeavors and help you bring your ideas to life.
- Gratitude connects you to others. Being grateful for the people in your life strengthens your relationships and gives you a sense of belonging. This sense of connection can inspire you to create things that benefit others and make the world a better place.
So, next time you’re feeling stuck in a creative rut, try taking a few minutes to reflect on what you’re grateful for. You might be surprised at how this simple act can spark your imagination and lead you to your next big idea.
Happiness Jars as Creativity Catalysts
I can see how it can be a powerful tool for boosting creativity. By collecting snippets of joy throughout the year, you create a treasure trove of inspiration that you can tap into whenever you need a creative pick-me-up. Pull out a your memories big and small and use them as personal, random stimulus to help inspire you.
Remember, cultivating gratitude is a practice, just like developing your creative skills. Start small, by acknowledging the little things that make you happy each day.