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Moving Beyond Self-Satisfaction

So you might have gained something from creating your gift. Great. What else is there?

This post is the fourth part in a six-part series. You might want to read previous posts from the Stretch Your Thinking Series.

There are a multitude of reasons why you might have begun creating a hand-made gift in the first place. You may have…

• wanted to create something
• dreamed about trying something new
• desired impress someone
• wished to give a unique present
• wanted to add love to your gift
• gone broke
• gone crazy

Either way, you’re at least thinking about it. Now that we’ve gotten the gist of the gains that you’ll make from doing this, let’s change topics to what the other person will receive from the fruitful labor of your talents.

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’ve finished whatever you’re working on. Say it’s a baby mobile for your sister’s newborn baby. You present to her some dozen or so hours of hard work with a smile. She accepts it graciously and can’t stop reveling in the pure beauty of such an object, and marvels at the kindness in your heart. Time is not only money – it’s also love. Now, wasn’t that great? Everyone’s all fuzzy inside, and your hard work has paid off. When the baby grows up, (s)he will have a cosmic respect for you, and will surely feel loved and treasured.

Mission: Almost Complete.

Forge a Sense of Independence

The question for today is: What do you get out of working on a gift for someone else? In this journey of self-exploration through art and creativity, you will stumble across the unknown, leading you to obstacles (that you will find in yourself to conquer). But, how exactly do you prosper from these situations? What’s in it for you?

I’d say that one of the most advantageous parts of working on a project is that you find yourself quite alone. This is where your growing independence thrives. Unless you’re working with a buddy, the thought process that you go through, and the careful attention that you pay to your project can only be completed by you. In fact, the most successful preschoolers that I’ve taught are the ones who can focus for a time on their own work, only looking for help during truly difficult points. These children tend to be among the fastest learners of the class, and definitely the most mature.

Some alone time might be all that you need to prove to yourself that you are worthy of your own time. It’s something like going back to the basics of time management and adulthood. If you don’t dictate some of your own time sometime, then when will you have your time? I’ve found it an exceptional piece of advice to never allow others to seize your day and make you pay attention to things that don’t interest you. Because in the end, you won’t get the most out of your life if you’re not mentally there.

Therefore, remember that a creative exploration in crafting gifts will deliver its value twice if you let it: once for the recipient of the product, and once upon you.

Check out the rest of the Stretch Your Thinking Series

Part 1: Try Out a New Creative Medium

Part 2: Exercise Your Imagination

Part 3: Problem Solving: Gaining Expertise

Part 4: Forge a Sense of Independence

Problem Solving: Gaining Expertise

When you make a gift for someone in a way that you never have before, you’ll be facing uncharted territory (aka facing a path of problem solving and learning). This is wonderful news, for you’ll not only be blazing the way for other artists (provided you share your findings), but you’ll also be keeping your noggin in tip top shape.

Boost your self-esteem.

Finding a problem and fixing it lets you prove to yourself that you are capable of dealing with unexpected situations and making decisions that deliver – a job skill that’s high in demand.

Knowing that there’s always an opportunity to problem solve later allows you to make mistakes, and let imperfect creation thrive.

It’s not a waste of time.

Even if you end up throwing your creation away, it’s okay. Solving the problems that arise, and trying out something without fear will be invaluable for future projects. You might be able to brainstorm new techniques to use later, which will add to your repertoire of knowledge about your art.

Check out the rest of the Stretch Your Thinking Series