Constantly Improving
No chaos, no creation. Evidence: the kitchen at mealtime. - Mason Cooley
The creative life is filled with obstacles—both inward and external—that seem to conspire against us. Of course, that is only mild paranoia talking; most obstacles are those we place in our own path. The time we spend enjoying another’s creativity instead of creating our own will eventually make it seem as though time is against us. The time we devote to family life may interfere with a burst of creativity and thus make us impatient.
Some obstacles are of our own choosing, and the sooner we see it for what it truly is, the better we are for it.
Some obstacles are creative fuel…
When we are on a long journey, we often have to stop for fuel. We get out, stretch, grab a drink, fuel the car and continue on. We can’t continue for very long without that stop, can we? No one wants to walk to the next fuel station, alone, knowing we should have taken the break when it presented itself.
Getting creatively dry feels much life that. We get lost in that time, brooding on our mistakes, envious of those passing us by. We all make the mistake now and again, and that is alright: it too is an obstacle of our own making. It is fuel for later, and cause perhaps to play it safe for a while, but eventually we all try to work the edge again.
…others are bleeding you dry
Perhaps it is a friend or family member that takes up all your free time. Maybe a health issue that steals your time and other resources. Even beliefs—instilled during your formative years—can drain your creative vigor with negative self-talk and poor habits.
Regardless of the source of the vampiric siphon, you need to fight! Your life and your legacy are not refundable. Who can say how long you have? Maybe half a century. Maybe a month. Either way around it, if being creative is important to you then you need to carve away the leeches and free yourself to fulfill your potential.
I am not about to get into how to do it, I only wish to help in regards to your resolve. You owe it to yourself, first, but you also owe it to those who are waiting to be touched by your works. Creativity is not one-sided, it is a dialogue that starts in your work and continues in the changes that your work inspires in others.
Whatever keeps you progressing
We are the rule-breakers, after all. The iconoclasts. We make that which provokes, inspires and brings enjoyment. And for that mission we have to cross a few bridges and pay more than a few tolls. When we look back on our works, we don’t see the trials, only the wonder of accomplishment. And probably a little pride, which is alright by the way. Excessive pride may be annoying, but false humility is as well. An artist that isn’t proud can’t have created much meaning.
Make an effort, every single day, to move forward on this journey. Make meaning. Improve. Create!
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” - Albert Einstein