We All Have a Creative Process

We all have a creative process

I've been having many conversations with men about their relationship to creativity. And it's been validating the assumption I've had about it.

We all want to take time to do something meaningful and many of us feel the pressure to deliver something novel or useful with our time. We worry that if the activity fails to produce a high level of performance that it was not worth the time. As a result, we keep those ideas quiet so as not to risk our reputation or be seen as anything other than who we tried our hardest to be for most of our life.

And so we take our stand, planting our flag at one extreme or the other. Either it's worth doing and we go all in or it's not and leave that idea to wither and die. We look at our options and decide with a ruthless intent that it's either clearly understood and fits into our constructed world view or it's confusing and unclear and not worthy of exploration.

And for those ideas that stay suspended in the middle... well we secretly tuck those away. Spending way too much time thinking about what could be, instead of leaning in and actually taking action on it to see what it will be.

What if we shifted the narrative slightly?

What if we looked at whatever it was we want to explore as something worth doing even if it fails? As opposed to the traditional hustle narrative of picking something you believe you couldn't fail in.

What if we reflected back on the seasons of our life, spending time evaluating the clues left behind and the lessons learned within those defining moments?

How would you define your relationship to creativity now?

What would this new perspective reveal to you about who you are and the work you've yet to do, but really should?

We all have a creative process that we follow. Most of the time, it's an organic, intuitive force that guides our hand and our steps. And I think it's time we invest more of our energy and attention in developing and refining what this is for us.

Each of us has an innate and unique perspective that has always been there. He is our steward of possibility and productivity.

My creative process was framed to be nothing more than a hobby

I was surrounded by it growing up, whether it was watching my mom painting, my dad tying flies or helping my opa build in his model workshop.

We were encouraged to be creative, but it was not something to take seriously, like you would a career path or your faith. So I never fully invested into my creativity.

And even when I did decide to, I just didn't know how. And everyone around me, kept reinforcing the belief that it was not something to invest much into anyways. Even to this day I grapple believing that it is important, even when every fiber of my being is screaming "DO IT!", I still hesitate.

Living a creative life lives in the grey area

So reframe your relationship to performance and quiet the noise of the world.

It's not "all in" or "all out". You don't need to be all the way or none of the way. It doesn't need to be completely understood for it to make sense.

Creativity is a way of looking at the world and seeing what could exist. It's an internal dialog that challenges the obvious and teaches us to see the opportunities we normally miss. It's your willingness to take your experiences and what you've learned and repurpose that into something meaningful for you first, others second.

Stop looking at the world from the lens of "What could I do if I knew I couldn't fail"

Start looking for "What's worth doing even if it fails"

The life you have lived has left you clues.

Begin by capturing and exploring them through writing.

Don't be afraid to show your crazy ideas to others.

Lower your standards for yourself.

Find new ways to express yourself.

Stop hesitating, for it is the biggest killer of brilliant ideas.

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As a certified creativity, business and life coach I am here to guide the transitioning & retiring senior professionals.

Those that find themselves at a crossroads, uncertain about the next chapter but definitely not ready to abandon their passions and talents.

Together we will harness your creative potential, opening doors to self-discovery and expression. Whether it's uncovering hidden talents reigniting old passions or exploring entirely new ventures. 

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