How do we know we’re moving if we don’t have milestones?
Every now and then, it’s fun (or challenging) to see where our creative life is going.
Ten minutes of reflection, strolling through some photos or just a ‘year in review’ with my wife will often reveal where we’re at and where we want to be.
The Good: our ‘made out of a tomato tree stand’ Christmas Tree. Creative. Saved money on a real one. Looks interesting.
Feeling bifurcated? Jekyll and sometimes Hyde?
Creatives often live a life that mirrors our cell phone plans: we spend our ‘peak minutes’ at a day job while our ‘off peak minutes’ (nights and weekends) afford us little time to get our creativity fix.
"Schizofreakia" Creative Commons: -RobW-
As a creative do you ever feel like this pic to the right?
With my 9-5 as a corporate sales trainer, writing this growing blog, doing a video shoot in a few days and a play reading at the end of the month I make Sally Field’s Sybil look normal.
A few months ago I had a breakthrough.
1. Give space, time and energy to your creativity.
Sue Hasker (Creative Commons)
If you don’t, your space, time and energy will go to things you don’t value.
2. Creating is an act of worship.
Not creating is self-centered and selfish.
3. Your creativity is a gift given to you.
Share gifts.
4. Date your artist.
Most of your best ideas come unexpectedly.
5. Don’t be an expert.
The minute you believe you’re an expert, you stop learning from others.
6. Jealousy is the death of creativity.
Celebrate others.
Flying High
Seymour Jacklin posed this question at the end of this amazing post. It really got me thinking about the three things I currently find helpful in my creative process.
+Never stop discovering and learning. Be a toddler. Their quest for knowledge is insatiable.
+Embrace foolishness. Give yourself the freedom to be foolish, make mistakes, and stop censoring your creative-self. You just might increase that 2% of work that is amazing and top quality to 4%. That doubles my chances of creating something truly awesome.
+Enjoy discipline. It’s tremendously freeing to get up early and create every day. Even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes. It feeds that part of you that needs the fuel. If you don’t feed it, your day is bland and tasteless. If you do feed your ‘creative,’ he makes appearances in the would-be mundane of everyday activities.
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What about you? What are your tips for creative propulsion?
Photo Credit: Xiaoyun Lee (Creative Commons)
“I just don’t feel inspired right now.”
“Not really feeling creative.”
“I can’t work under a deadline. My creativity doesn’t happen like that.”
Bull@#$*. For real. I don’t like to use strong language, yet sometimes you gotta call it what it is.
Especially if it’s ruining your artist and your life.
Comfort zone. Creative zone. Are there magic recipes to create masterpieces?
I saw this simple drawing here and was given permission to repost it. [Update: the original post is here along with a ton of other gems! Check it out!]
Man I love this concept… and hate it.
Can we create in a comfort zone? Aren’t there ways we MUST be comfortable to create?
What’s been your experience you writers, actors, teachers, moms, pastors, trainers, and other miracle makers?
Mastering the art of when to break and not break the rules is a never-ending exercise in creativity. As creatives, we live with the privilege of learning that tightrope walk.
Today’s my birthday.
I’m 36.
I used my birthday money to buy this…
Yes, it’s a remote control toy helicopter.
Yes, I’ve played with it a lot.
Yes, it’s amazing.
Some justification. A friend posted a quote on my Facebook Page today by Chili Davis, a Major League baseball player: “Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.” Chili Davis.
Chili? His name is Chili. No, for serious. I checked it. It’s for real.
So yeah, I’m just following Chili’s advice. (Said that in my head a few times… “I’m just following Chili’s advice.”) I’m gonna break a few rules, make a few, and keep a few rules this year to keep my creative juices growing.
~I’ll do my best work this year rather than rest on my laurels.
~I’ll learn what my ‘my laurels’ are.
~I’ll love better.
~I’ll keep rules, break rules, and sometimes make my own rules.
~I’ll live like a disciplined rebel with a cause.
~I’ll not just dream about ideas; I’ll do the dream, and take the steps to see the idea grow into a reality.
~I’ll explore like a toddler, dream like an adolescent, and work like a ‘responsible’ adult.
Today may or may not be your birthday, but we can always focus, define, and set the tone for our lives as we walk that creativity tightrope.
How are you growing down, growing up, and keeping the balance of rule keeping and rule breaking?
