Last week, we talked about social media as a champion and facilitator of our creativity, not only because social media tools encourage us to put our ideas out there, but also because of the way they support us emotionally – by triggering us support others and by keeping us open to receiving support through “likes,” “shares” and “comments.”
So, this week, we’re going to jump into a new Sandbox Challenge using social media as our canvas.
The idea behind this Sandbox is to intentionally use social media (Pinterest, in this case) as a creative confidence builder, by simply paying attention to what is happening within us as we play with the tool. In the process, we can also lock in the creative confidence concepts we’ve discussed so far. Specifically, the concepts that:
- All ideas have value
- Fully living naturally leads to greater creative expression
Okay. Enough of the explanation. Let’s play!
Your Sandbox Challenge: Creative BOARDom
For those not familiar with Pinterest, it’s the social media tool that lets you create “boards” around a theme. You might create a board featuring your favorite books, or an inspiration board for redecorating your house. It can be ANYTHING. You can also re-pin images from other people’s boards onto your board.
For this Sandbox Challenge, pick one of the following themes and create a Pinterest board on your theme:
THEME #1: What I’m Creating This Year: Create a Pinterest Board that represents your answers to the 10 Big-Life Questions I shared a few articles back. If you didn’t answer the questions yet, this is a great opportunity to do it!
THEME #2: What Sparks Me: Create an inspiration board that represents where you get your creative juice; what inspires you creatively or otherwise.
How to Share Your Sandbox Creation in Service of Receiving Monster Kudos and Demonstrating Your Belief in the Value of All Ideas:
When you start your board, post a link to it in a comment to this Sandbox Challenge post - in other words, in the comment section below.
Remember that all boards are works in progress and its fun for everyone when we get to see what people add over time. So, share your board in the comments section of this post soon as you pin your first pin.
In this particular Sandbox, we’ll, of course, be going through all the steps of the creative process and we’ll all be going ALL THE WAY in putting our ideas out there. But we’ll also be doing something else. We’ll be using a type of creative tool that has likely been building our creative confidence from behind the scenes for quite some time. We’lll just be using it more consciously toward that purpose. And that, makes all the difference.
To not underestimating social media as a path to bolder creative expression,
Susan B.
Unlocked Box – coaching for risk-takers, box-breakers and wannabe’s. Sign up for the eZine Guts at UnlockedBox.com and get the 10 Un-Rules of Creativity.
I'm just getting started on it, but here is my "What Sparks Me" Board: http://pinterest.com/annquasman/what-sparks-me/
I love Pinterest and you are so right...it is a way to let your imagination run wild. It reminds me of when I was little and would get lost in a coloring book or with paper and crayons....
Thanks for encoring me to get started!
Posted by: Annq | June 14, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Ann, Thanks so much for sharing your board (LOVE IT! and of course I got inspired by some of your pins - as you know). And thanks for also sharing your thoughts about your experience! I'm having a similar experience with my board. I put up my first pin and now I want to play with out for hours - just getting started and I'm going to add my link in a second comment RIGHT NOW!
Posted by: Susan (Olson) Bishop of Unlocked Box | June 15, 2012 at 09:17 AM
Okay! Here's the link to my Creative BOARDom Pinterest What Sparks Me board. Can't wait to play with it some more.
http://pinterest.com/unlockedbox/what-sparks-me/
Posted by: Susan (Olson) Bishop of Unlocked Box | June 15, 2012 at 09:19 AM
Oh no! I haven't been invited to Pinterest yet. I can't play. :(
Posted by: Jeshaas | July 08, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Yeah!! So glad you're going to play! It can take a day or so for Pinterest to send your link to create your account - bit they will. It's not too late so let me know know when your board is up and I'll post the link. I think you'll like Pinterest and I can't wait to follow you!
Posted by: Susan (Olson) Bishop of Unlocked Box | July 08, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Jess (Jeshaas) - OMG! Just saw your Pinterest boards - I'm totally inspired. Can't wait to go back and look more closely and comment. Let me know if I can post the link!!
Posted by: Susan (Olson) Bishop of Unlocked Box | July 09, 2012 at 01:54 PM
We have another Pinterest Creative BOARDom player - Jess Hass. Here's the link to her TWO very cool boards:
http://pinterest.com/jeshaas/
Posted by: Susan (Olson) Bishop of Unlocked Box | July 13, 2012 at 05:51 AM