Within each of us lies an inherent craving to create, to put something beautiful in the world that was not there before. We have in the depths of our core a longing to leave a concrete mark on others through our work; we want to sing, dance, draw, write, bake, and discover as no one else ever has.

Within each of us lies an inherent craving to create, to put something beautiful in the world that was not there before.

This desire to create is both natural and sacred; as women made in the image and likeness of God—the true and ultimate Creator—we reflect His creative will and are invited to share in His creative work on earth through the individual gifts and talents He has endowed us with. How beautiful is that?

Yet, for those not working in creative fields (and sometimes even for those of us who do), our longing to create can sometimes feel overwhelming or seem out of reach. Perhaps we don’t think of ourselves as artists (or even artistic), or perhaps we don’t believe we have enough time to work on cultivating our inner Picassos or Mozarts.

Becoming more creative, however, doesn’t require you to quit your job and start pursuing painting or music full-time; it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. Instead, a creative life is just as much an attitude as it is a practice, and is something that can be integrated into all aspects of our lives. In fact, it can be as simple as just approaching our tasks with a heightened spirit of imagination.

Take children, for example. Kids are the most creative, artistic people, and also have some of the absolute wildest imaginations. The two go hand in hand. As we grow up, most of us tend to lose some of that excited imagination as fewer and fewer things seem new and novel to us. But let us not forget that each morning brings a fresh start, each moment an unrepeatable experience. When we keep this in mind and start looking at our lives with renewed perspectives, we’ll find inspiration and creative outlets all around us.

But let us not forget that each morning brings a fresh start, each moment an unrepeatable experience.

Such inspiration can be found in a sunset, a meaningful conversation, an unexpected gesture of kindness, the thrill of doing something new—the list goes on and on. As a writer, I keep a journal with me to record theses moments and thoughts. A photographer might keep a camera, or a painter a sketchpad. I know one woman whose love of music inspires her to, in essence, “translate” songs into (delicious) meals for others. Another friend has an incredible talent for transforming her love of color into the most unique flower arrangements.

No matter our inspirations, or how we each choose to capture or interpret them, there are endless opportunities for us to unleash our inner artist—regardless of wealth, status, education, or abilities. After all, it’s not about making something perfect to be admired in a museum, but about appreciating the divine gifts around us and expressing our God-given talents in even the most “normal” of tasks, starting  from how we make our morning breakfast to how we fall asleep.

As writer G.K. Chesterton’s words remind us, “At the back of our brains is a blaze of astonishment at our own existence. The object of the artistic and spiritual life is to dig for this sunrise of wonder.”

What creative gifts have you been blessed with? How do you use them in everyday life?