Jimbo's Jots

Are you more left brained or right brained? You know what I mean, don’t you? My left brained friends have a tendency to lean into factual based thought processes. My right brained friends lean into the creative, artistic mindset. There is no right or wrong in having more of one side over the other. It’s more of your disposition when you are handling how life happens for you.

Now that we’re about to enter the holiday season, I’m gearing up for a little more right braining activity. Let me explain. Over the past few years, I have gone down into my basement workshop and I try to create something out of cheap wood that we can have as a new Christmas decoration. It started with a Santa sleigh that I modeled after one that my dad had made our family. Dad’s sleigh was wooden, covered in broken up egg shells and painted gold. Mine rendition was painted red with the “trim” of the sleigh painted in candy cane. I’ve also made a two dimensional truck hauling a Christmas tree and a Christmas tree wall hanging.

If you were to look at my creations, they are not something that I would “sell” as being perfectly made. I’m not a great painter. I stand back and look at my creations and sometimes think, “I wish I was better at this. I need to slow down a bit and take my time and not try to rush through this.”

Then I’m reminded of the times the Bible references God right braining. The creation account of God forming man from the dust from the ground and woman from the rib of man is a great story of God showing his creative side. And God said it was “very good”.

I was working with a client one time who was struggling with some anxiety as an anticipated medical procedure related to cancer was about to happen. As we talked through the anxious thoughts, I asked the client about exploring some creativity. The client replied, “Well, I like to paint. I just haven’t done it in a while.” Due to the procedure and recovery, the client was also anxious about having to sit still and have limited movement. As the session finished, it was concluded that maybe purchasing some coloring books would help ease some anxiety in recovery. Several months later, as we met again, the client, now several months in recovery, spoke some much about how the coloring calmed his anxiety. And he was now able to paint in his garage studio.

Maybe the left side of your brain has been working way too much and it needs a break. Try finding something using the right side of your brain! Let’s paint, color, build, craft! Let the creative side of your brain have some fun!

Be blessed in your creativity! Be a blessing to others along the way!!