"Creativity is a really big deal! “It isn’t, like, some weird side hustle,” I said to one of my own mentors recently. “It’s an intrinsic part of who and how some of us are.”" ... I am learning these days just how true this is. So much of my life, out of necessity and need, feels small and constrained right now, and it feels painful to be not creating. I need it. I can't manage without feeding that part of who I am.
“about something that’s a little bit spiritual and a little bit intangible” - I’ve never heard creativity articulated so well. Love ALL of this post - thank you Sarah 🙏🏻
“By accommodating your genuine needs.” Yes!! I am more accepting that I do have genuine needs that relate to my creativity and are not selfish but necessary. Now I’m trying to put that into practice!
I love everything about this and your approach to your work, but most of all I love the homework example! It’s so small and yet so impactful; playful and meaningful. It’s amazing what these little shifts can do, isn’t it? Of course your answer isn’t “full steam ahead” but I think that’s sometimes the fear or worry we have when asking for help or “getting serious about it” by hiring a coach or mentor.
I came across this quote from Robin Wall Kimmerer and it seems like it's a part of our ongoing talk about attention:
"Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart."
And like Bill, I immediately reversed the tagline: My real life is my creative life. But now that I write that I want to push back! Because even though they flow into and out of each other, there is a difference. Maybe it's about integration?
Thank you for great inspiration today! I would reverse the order of your wonderful affirmation: My real life is my creative life. Creativity doesn't have to be separate from any aspect of our lives, even our mundane activities. A "burst of creativity" can come at any moment, at any time. It is both a dream that mysteriously appears in our waking or sleepy times, and it can be nurtured, fostered intentionally through various planned activities: music, art, nature walks, and this little thing called writing!!
Oh this is so aligned with my process Sarah, thank you for holding up a mirror and validating it. I sometimes worry because I have a hard time strategizing, my way is through the body, and like Graham, I must “keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.” Strategizing puts me too much in the future where inner listening can no longer be my guide, and then things fall stale and I grow disinterested. This process doesn’t work well with long-term business/creative planning but so far, giving my energy to whatever project is in front of me feels vital and true.
This reflection made me really happy to read, Kimberly. I find myself gravitating to the word, "impulse," lately, and I feel like the older I get, the closer I come to being able to follow my impulse more often. I hope in the future it's just how I'm moving through time and space always. Hungry? OK, I'll stop and eat. Does my body need to move? OK, I'll stand up. I realize "impulsiveness" carries a negative or childish connotation, but what I'm trying to describe actually feels quite mature to me.
I guess I'm wondering if there's a way that impulse can in fact carry us long term, if we just stay close to its many iterations. Is this what all the Buddhists are actually talking about when they talk about presence?!
I'm just thinking out loud here :) Your words tend to inspire that in me.
Ahhh! This is wonderful thinking! I’m now inspired to explore it more, maybe an In Defense of Impulsivity….:) I’ve always known I can be quite impulsive, framing it in the negative but secretly loving being alive in this particular way—feeling most true, most relational, most aligned with the present.
"Creativity is a really big deal! “It isn’t, like, some weird side hustle,” I said to one of my own mentors recently. “It’s an intrinsic part of who and how some of us are.”" ... I am learning these days just how true this is. So much of my life, out of necessity and need, feels small and constrained right now, and it feels painful to be not creating. I need it. I can't manage without feeding that part of who I am.
I'm glad the timing of this piece is resonating with you, Rebecca! And I hope this difficult period makes way for ease sooner than later.
Also, for what it's worth, I think really small, low-stakes encounters with creativity are still so valuable and healing <3
“about something that’s a little bit spiritual and a little bit intangible” - I’ve never heard creativity articulated so well. Love ALL of this post - thank you Sarah 🙏🏻
Thank *you,* Hannah, being one of my creative guides.
“By accommodating your genuine needs.” Yes!! I am more accepting that I do have genuine needs that relate to my creativity and are not selfish but necessary. Now I’m trying to put that into practice!
That shift from selfish --> necessary is SO vital! And also quite healing, I think. You're doing such good work, Christie.
I love everything about this and your approach to your work, but most of all I love the homework example! It’s so small and yet so impactful; playful and meaningful. It’s amazing what these little shifts can do, isn’t it? Of course your answer isn’t “full steam ahead” but I think that’s sometimes the fear or worry we have when asking for help or “getting serious about it” by hiring a coach or mentor.
Sharing this with a friend :)
Right?! Thanks for putting it into words like that.
Also, receiving this kind of feedback from you carries a lot of weight for me--thank you, friend <3
I came across this quote from Robin Wall Kimmerer and it seems like it's a part of our ongoing talk about attention:
"Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart."
And like Bill, I immediately reversed the tagline: My real life is my creative life. But now that I write that I want to push back! Because even though they flow into and out of each other, there is a difference. Maybe it's about integration?
Love this RWK quote <3
And love what you're saying, too--can you speak more to this idea of integration? And is the difference something to...resolve? Observe?
Also I'm a dork, and I think I responded to you twice because I still secretly don't understand this platform :) I JUST SO WANNA HEAR YR THOUGHTS!
Thank you for great inspiration today! I would reverse the order of your wonderful affirmation: My real life is my creative life. Creativity doesn't have to be separate from any aspect of our lives, even our mundane activities. A "burst of creativity" can come at any moment, at any time. It is both a dream that mysteriously appears in our waking or sleepy times, and it can be nurtured, fostered intentionally through various planned activities: music, art, nature walks, and this little thing called writing!!
Love your reversal, Bill.
Love this! Very true! How lovely to be mentioned 💖
Grateful to be in convo with you :)
Same! 💖
Oh this is so aligned with my process Sarah, thank you for holding up a mirror and validating it. I sometimes worry because I have a hard time strategizing, my way is through the body, and like Graham, I must “keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.” Strategizing puts me too much in the future where inner listening can no longer be my guide, and then things fall stale and I grow disinterested. This process doesn’t work well with long-term business/creative planning but so far, giving my energy to whatever project is in front of me feels vital and true.
This reflection made me really happy to read, Kimberly. I find myself gravitating to the word, "impulse," lately, and I feel like the older I get, the closer I come to being able to follow my impulse more often. I hope in the future it's just how I'm moving through time and space always. Hungry? OK, I'll stop and eat. Does my body need to move? OK, I'll stand up. I realize "impulsiveness" carries a negative or childish connotation, but what I'm trying to describe actually feels quite mature to me.
I guess I'm wondering if there's a way that impulse can in fact carry us long term, if we just stay close to its many iterations. Is this what all the Buddhists are actually talking about when they talk about presence?!
I'm just thinking out loud here :) Your words tend to inspire that in me.
Ahhh! This is wonderful thinking! I’m now inspired to explore it more, maybe an In Defense of Impulsivity….:) I’ve always known I can be quite impulsive, framing it in the negative but secretly loving being alive in this particular way—feeling most true, most relational, most aligned with the present.
YES. That. Exactly.
I seriously can't wait to read what you come up with <3 if you need a thinking-partner at any point, you know how to reach me :)
Oh that could be fun!!!! ❤️