How James Hillman taught us to see the world through a creative lens

Creativity begins with listening and noticing: What is moving me? What is touching my heart? The process of discovering what we love is about letting the world in—being open to see, feel, and experience it fully.

Today, I learned that the great psychologist James Hillman has passed away. His words have always been a source of deep inspiration for me. Here’s one of my favorite passages from his work:

“The world doesn’t consist of merely objects and things; it is filled with useful, playful, and intriguing opportunities: The oriole doesn’t see a branch, but an occasion for perching; the cat doesn’t see a thing we call an empty box, it sees safe hiding for peering. The bear doesn’t smell honeycomb, but the opportunity for delicious feeding. The world is buzzing and blooming with information, which is always available and never absent.”
—James Hillman, The Soul’s Code

Hillman’s words invite us to step outside of our “psychological” homes—the narratives we inherit, the walls built by our past—and take a leap into the home of the world. It’s there, in the richness of life itself, that we find our deepest inspirations. By letting the world in, we discover what moves our hearts and ignites our creativity.

Thank you, James Hillman, for reminding us that the world is alive with meaning, and for showing us how to see it.

(Excerpted from Getting Messy: Taking Risks and Opening the Imagination by Kim Hermanson)