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Creativity can jumpstart inspiration for your business

January 13, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Guest Blog by Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect

How painting Mandalas can give business perspective. If you’re an arts and crafts kind of person, you’ll know how therapeutic Mandala painting is. And if you’re a recreational hobbyist, you should get stuck into adult colouring in. That’s right, a colouring book just for you!

 

I started painting Mandalas back in 2013, and what a saving grace it has proven to be! In those difficult times when nothing seems to be going right or you’re seeking some form of escapism to clear the clutter from your mind, then this is that kind of hobby – relaxing, calming, creatively stimulating, great escapism!

So, what exactly is a Mandala? 

Mandalas are circular designs that reflect the wholeness of the person creating them. According to Carl Jung (pronounced Yoong), ” a mandala is the psychological expression of the totality of the self”. Mandalas are recognised for their deep spiritual meaning and representation of wholeness. Mandalas can be seen all around us and they symbolise a meaningful reflection of its creator.

Why paint Mandalas?

Not only does Mandala painting help you to stay focussed, you also end up being very creative and you can divert your attention at any time.

What are the business benefits?

  • Creativity in any form gives value to your visions. The simple act of creating can be the first step to something new in your life. By putting creativity to paper, it’s similar to writing down your goals, and by doing this who knows what could transpire. For me it helped improve a lot of my business processes. While quietly creating away, my brain was free to wander and think of my business from a different perspective.
  • Creativity helps you stay in the moment. The simple notion of holding pen (or crayon) to paper helps your brain stay focused on that one action. Being creative is an excellent stress reliever, alleviates a bad mood (it absolutely does!), helps you calm down and breathe. Be sure to take in the moment and enjoy your creativity!
  • Creativity can jumpstart inspiration for your business. Creative time can be very rewarding and the more creative time you set aside the more creative you’ll become. You’ll be amazed at the number of light bulb moments I’ve had whilst painting away, just being in the moment. Enjoying these sparks of inspiration through drawing and painting is invaluable to the development and success of your business.

Spending time with family and friends while being creative is another way of communicating, of connecting with each other. Do you find time to be creative? Why not try out Mandala painting and witness the benefits in your personal and business life!


Karen Wessels is the co-founder and COO of VA Connect, a South African virtual assistant platform that provides outsourced administrative support. Prior to establishing VA Connect, Karen spent over 10 years in different sales, marketing & admin support roles. Having worked with MDs, SMEs and professionals, she is very familiar with managing different workloads within tight deadlines. This has equipped her with the invaluable skills required to run a successful VA business. Follow Karen on her Personal Website |  Twitter | Facebook | Google+

 

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