Confession: I used to align with the thought that creativity was like a mythical will-o-the-wisp. Unobtainable if you tried. That it was something you had to let come to you, like a frightened animal.
While I do still cling to the idea that – sometimes – creativity can be an elusive dream just out of reach, I broke through a few mental barriers this year regarding creativity (and goals in general).
1. Add it to the list. Adding creative projects to your daily to-do list isn’t cheating. I used to leave my creative projects off of my schedule. I often felt these projects were “too fun” to be a responsibility, or that attempting a creative goal would be a waste of time if the creativity vibes weren’t quite right that day. This year, however, I made a steadfast choice to add creative goals to my daily, weekly, and monthly lists (and not just tacked onto the end of the list, either). It’s a perspective shift.
2. Know that it’s okay to seek inspiration. This is not the same as waiting for inspiration to strike. Whether you find inspiration in a Bach concerto, a favorite quote, or a Pinterest board, it’s helpful to have something other than four blank walls by your side. Instead of hoping that inspiration will flutter by you, grab the net and capture it yourself.
3. Show up. This is both the easiest and hardest request of all. It’s easy to sit at a desk or drag yourself to the spot where you need to be to create. The hard part is deciding to do that.
4. As Nike would say, “Just do it.” I never liked the advice to simply start being creative, because I knew it would lead to some moments of defeat. I don’t enjoy knowing that I’ll eventually rip up the paper, toss the painting, create a mountain of drafts. But after enough times, you will touch gold. And it’s worth it.
5. Be forgiving. There’s only one thing worse than concluding a creative session and not having any work to show for it. And that’s being overly critical of your lack of accomplishment. Forgiving yourself when you are unable to create a masterpiece is essential. Otherwise, you’ll scare yourself away. See what you can learn from your drafts and forget the rest.
In spite of all of this, I’m not there yet. I still get the vibe that the creative “feeling” is just too far away. I’m still learning. And maybe that’s the point.
