How to Unleash Your Innate Creative Spirit

Why now is the perfect time to reconnect with your inner child— No matter your age

I’m convinced age is a state of mind. Nobody ever accused me of rushing into adulthood. If anything, I hurled my insatiably curious, naive, playful inner child into the free world, and it’s been quite an adventure.

Despite several bad choices and detours through hell and back, curiosity and creativity have served me well.

As I embrace the grandfather stage of life, I’ve decided it’s time to write and share a new body of work about creativity—something I’ve had simmering in the Muse Department for years.

It’s about being a rose in bloom and tapping into your creative superpowers.

We're talking about our eternal creative spirits. That infinite creative spirit empowers us to overcome the most challenging trials we face as humans.

And only humans have it.

The Purpose of This Work Is Ultimately About Freedom

We all have a creative gift that gets buried throughout life. Creativity is fueled by human consciousness and curiosity. It’s part of who we are, but most people lose touch with it as they age.

I know because I did.

I’ll never forget the day my father cracked up at something I said. He wiped his eyes through his laughter and said, “Clifford, great line. You’re very creative. That’s a gift.”

That moment stuck with me. Growing up, I chased the standard career path like everyone else. I played by the rules. I worked hard. And yet, something felt wrong—like I was suffocating. The Rat Race was tearing at my soul.

So, at thirty, I jumped out. I partnered up, started my own business, and never looked back.

My curious, creative nature carried me through the tough times, led me to the woman of my dreams, helped me court and marry her, and taught me what it takes to be a father.

That same creative spark helped me build several small “lifestyle” businesses, which allowed me to shape my life on my terms. My wife has always supported my entrepreneurial spirit.

Our creative spirit can lead us to freedom.

The Power of Creative Freedom

Having creative freedom is priceless. When we sell it to an employer, we’re not just trading time for money — we’re selling our ability to create. The cost?

Opportunity Cost — the price of not doing what we were meant to do.

That’s why working a job that doesn’t ignite us feels so soul-crushing. We work for money instead of love.

I was lucky — my parents were creative entrepreneurs. For them, building businesses was an art form. They showed me that creativity isn’t just painting or playing music — it’s about seeing possibilities where others don’t.

Reclaiming Your Creative Superpower

I hear it all the time:

• “I’m not creative.”
• “I can’t write.”
• “I can’t draw, paint, or invent things.”
• “I don’t know what I want in life.”

Nonsense.

You are creative. You always have been. You just forgot.

Creativity isn’t something you either “have” or “don’t have.” It’s a muscle — the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

That’s why I’m so fired up about this topic. I want to help people remember their creative gifts and start using them again.

A Lesson from a Cardboard Box

The other day, I was hanging out with my youngest son, Alex. He and his wife have a two-year-old son named Ford — short for Clifford. He’s pure magic.

Alex and I stood in the backyard, looking at a pile of large boxes I was about to recycle. I said, “Alex, want to use some of these boxes to build a big fort with Ford?”

I’m 63 years young and still considering building forts from cardboard boxes.

Why? Because creativity is my superpower. It’s yours, too.

Why Creativity Matters Now More Than Ever

Mark my words … there’s a significant shift in consciousness taking place right now. I don’t know how to describe my feelings, but what we see today in the media isn’t sustainable.

There is always a silver lining because good, love, and light will always win. The inordinate dysfunction we’re witnessing on a global scale is leading toward a massive split in humanity between those who are creatively aware of a higher power and the gifts associated with that power and those who are not.

Millions of people are aware of the good taking place. It’s a matter of perspective, a function of our God-given consciousness. And that’s the source of our creative gifts.

No true artist works for money. We work for the love of work, and some of us learn the business side of it, but many don’t.

However, we are all born to be artists and creators of a better life and world.

Think back to when you were a kid. You didn’t need permission to be creative. You just made things — forts, drawings, stories, silly songs. It wasn’t about being perfect. It was about playing, imagining, and exploring.

But somewhere along the way, most of us stopped.

We were told to color inside the lines. To stop daydreaming. To be realistic. We started worrying about what others thought. We became afraid to fail.

And that’s how creativity gets buried.

But here’s the truth: It never left you. That spark is still there, waiting to be uncovered.

How We Lose Our Creative Gifts — And How to Get Them Back

Creativity isn’t just for artists, musicians, or inventors. It’s a God-given ability that allows us to solve problems, dream bigger, and build something meaningful.

The problem is that life beats it out of us.

• Fear of failure — We don’t want to look foolish, so we stop trying.
• Self-doubt — We convince ourselves we’re not “creative” or talented enough.
• Routine and responsibility — We get so busy surviving that we forget to play.

But here’s the secret: Creativity isn’t a gift — it’s a habit.

The more you use it, the stronger it gets. And I’m proof of that.

Building the Next Big “Fort”

Since leaving the Rat Race at thirty, I’ve started four businesses from the ground up. I had to think differently, embrace uncertainty, and create something from nothing each time.

That’s creativity in action.

I do it every day. For example, I’ve been launching a new photography business for several months — headshots, portraits, and corporate events.

It’s another fort. Another playground. Another adventure.

It’s hard work, but it doesn’t feel like work.

And it got me thinking:

What if more people could rediscover their creative gifts, conquer doubt, and reconnect with the energy they once had as children?

This Is Just the Beginning

That’s why I’m launching this series of articles.

We’re going to explore:

• Why creativity is one of the most powerful gifts we have.
• How we lose it — and how to reclaim it.
• The fears and obstacles that block creativity (and how to smash through them).
• Simple, practical ways to reignite your creative spark.

This isn’t just about art or music. It’s about thinking differently, seeing new possibilities, and building an exciting life.

You don’t need permission. You don’t need talent.

Remember who you are — a creator.

Join me for the journey into the creative realm within us all.

I write about creativity, love, and light, sharing stories, images, and artwork that inspire us to be our best selves. I’m a family man, brand, creativity guide, author, and photographer in Scottsdale, Arizona. Learn more at www.CliffordJones.com.