CREATIVITY 101 💫 How to Reduce Stress, Become Happier & Create Magic
Hello, my love!
It's been a while since I've popped into your inbox. How have you been?!
As you probably know, I've been speaking my little heart out on my podcast every week. But writing has been (and likely always will be) my #1 love, so I'm happy to be back here with ya today.
It got me thinking: what is it that actually inspires us to SHOW UP to create something — be it a podcast, art, writing, or any creative venture? And why is it that sometimes we feel SUPER inspired/creative and the art just flows right through us, and other times it feels forced and awkward?
(First of all: I highly recommend the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert who speaks BRILLIANTLY about our relationship to creativity.)
It comes down to this: we are in a relationship with everything in our lives, including our creativity.
Just as we have relationships with our family, friends and significant other, we have a similar relationship to the work that create.
I know, sounds crazy. But look basis of ANY strong relationship and you'll quickly see how it can relate to creativity:
You have to SHOW UP, even when you don't want to
You have to GIVE IT SPACE and avoid controlling or manipulating it
Sometimes you have to DISCONNECT to reconnect — meaning having other points of interest outside of your relationship which ultimately grounds you (and makes you a more interesting partner with loads to talk about)
You have to SPEND TIME on the relationship in order for it to blossom and grow
Now, obviously this isn't a *lovey dovey, let's hold hands with our paintings and writing* kind of thing LOL.
This just demonstrates that the more you show up for your relationship to your creativity, the more easily ideas and creativity will flow through you.
And the opposite is also true: if you say you want to write a book but don't schedule in the time to write DAILY, you are neverrrr ever going to all of a sudden get *inspired* to sit down and write it... you just have to do it.
So many of us are waiting for the PERFECT circumstances to be creative (or change our bodies, relationships, etc.)
*Oh, I am going to take 3 months off of work, lock myself away in a cabin and write this novel FOR SURE.*
*Oh, I wish I had time to [write, draw, paint, read], but my schedule is just sooo busy I couldn't possibly fit it in* (PSSST: BS alert! Listen to my podcast about how you can fit in everything you WANT TO DO into your already busy schedule.)
*Oh, I would write/make a video or podcast, but I'm working full time and I just don't have the space to be creative. I only really feel creative when I can go to yoga for 3 hours, sit outside and meditate for an hour, cleanse my chakras and THEN I might feel inspired to write.*
The question isn't whether or not you have time to do something creative, the question is whether or not it's a priority for you.
As with anything, discipline = freedom.
So, as 'unsexy' as it might sound to schedule Creative Time into your hourly planner for the day, that's what you have to do to make it happen.
Because it's only when you SHOW UP and sit down with the intention of being creative, that the ideas finally start to flow. But you have to actually show up for that to happen.
Trust me, I'm a huge fan of taking INSPIRED action. But if we all just waited around for inspiration to strike before we changed our [bodies, relationships, creativity, etc.], we will never actually make any progress.
Here are a few final tips to help get you *in the zone* and creating whatever your heart desires:
Schedule it into your calendar and make it a non-negotiable. If you don't schedule it, it ain't real. You'll make up excuses like "oh, tomorrow. I'm too tired." but when it's in your schedule, you have no choice but to show up.
SHOW UP, even if you aren't feeling *super creative.* I can't tell you how many times I've sat down to write (like right now, ahem), with NO IDEA what I'm going to write about, but the simple act of starting to type leads to a long ass blog post or email. It's all about taking action, THEN the ideas will come.
Prepare yourself: what relaxes you and puts you 'in the zone?' For me, it's a cup of coffee, acoustic music playing in the background, a candle lit and my phone faaaar away from me so I'm not distracted. Do what you need to do to create a *sacred space* for your creativity: is there a space in your house where you can create your art that makes you feel calm and centered? If not, create it. Listen to music, take a bath, meditate, do what you gotta to do feel GOOD before you sit down to be creative.
Let it flow with no judgment! So many of us procrastinate because of our need to be perfect. We don't want to write or draw or paint because we're not sure how the finished product will turn out. But it's not about the OUTCOME. It's about doing it because your soul is calling you to, and most importantly: because you ENJOY IT. And that, my friends, is a win in my book :)
So, I hope you found these tips helpful!
Even if you don't identify as a "creative" person in the literal sense (a writer, painter, or someone who creates art), we are ALL creative. We've just let the creative candle burn out as we've grown up because we've gotten too busy, too overworked and too tired.
Truly, whatever it is you want to create, whatever idea you have — you can bring ANY and ALL of it to life. You just have to make the time for it, show up and take action.
And even if you never share it with the world, you've created it for yourself, and you will start to feel that childlike sense of joy that all of us *serious adults* are desperately missing and craving these days.
<3
xo
Julie