Kwanzaa Day 6 : Kuumba Candle Lighting
On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, we light the candle of Kuumba (Creativity). The principle of Kuumba encourages us to do as much as we can, at the highest quality in attempts to leave our community/world better and more beautiful than how we first encountered it. As we engage in creative initiatives, it is important that we take note of the health of our relationships, and Key 5 the Seven Keys to Emotional Emancipation helps us do that:
“Ethics and Methods: We take responsibility for managing emotions, thoughts, actions and relationships.“
Our most creative moments often happen in community as we bounce ideas off of one another and collaborate to co-create plays, books, presentations, songs, organizations, and other initiatives beyond our wildest dreams. In the midst of this work, it is very possible that we will encounter conflict and tension as we won’t always see eye to eye with our friends, colleagues, and community members. Key 5 helps us navigate these moments of conflict and tension by encouraging us to take ownership of our emotions, thoughts, and actions and to relate to one another with healthy, loving, and supportive ways.
Action Step:
Today, on the sixth day of Kwanzaa, CHN encourages you to brainstorm creative ideas you want to see come to fruition this year. As you write down your ideas, think about the people you would want to partner with and think about how you can commit to working well with others. How might you be proactive in creating environments that foster healthy dynamics of conflict-resolution and allow the spirit of Creativity to flow freely?
