Creativity, Where Are You?

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Last week, I shared with you a framework that will help you make manifest the book that’s rattlin‘ around in your bones, and today, I want to open up a conversation about creativity in general. The ever elusive concept of creativity.Where does it come from? How do we mine more of it? What holds us back from accessing it?

I’d be lying if I said I knew the answers to these rather lofty contemplations, but as I draw close to the end of what’s been the most prolific year of my life (having written and launched two online programs and three books), I’ve definitely learnt a thing or two about how and when creativity shows up.

A lot of it boils down to recognising patterns, honouring cycles and refusing to resist when the call to create beckons. It’s not rocket science, but certainly involves a level of awareness, and much of what I’m about to share is far from profound, but hey, sometimes it’s the simplicity of the thing that we need to be reminded of.

Give yourself to a spiritual practice

One of the traps of the ego is its attempt at teaching us that to be doing more, we need to be doing more.

To take action from an inspired and authentic place, I believe we need to do less (I harp on about this all the time), and in the beautiful container of stillness – when we’re simply sitting there, paying attention – it’s in those moments that the likes of grace and insight unfold.

This isn’t something I can possibly articulate or label or explain, but when we commit to sinking into the seat of the observer, and being truly present with what’s unraveling in the moment, we’re better able to pay attention Out Here in the world of form. Surrendering to practice allows us to hear the little knocks on the side of our heads that dance around with a seductive invitation to write that, or cook that or play that piece of music, or get your paints out.

So, find your meditation. 

For me, meditation means lighting a candle, sitting on my yoga block in front of my alter, and remaining still. My husband’s meditation is surfing. For you, meditation may entail slow, mindful, barefoot walks, cloud watching, or simply sitting on a park bench and watching the world pass you by, a la Eckhart Tolle. When you devote yourself to spiritual practice, you devote yourself to the place that serves your capacity to create. Tweet that.

Move your body

This can feel really counterintuitive. The ego in me tells me that if I want to make my mark on the world as a writer, then I need to be sitting my ass down and writing all day. This is nothing but yet another trap, laid out by that limiting presence within me. It’s convincing, but ultimately delusional.

One of my mentors recently told me that creativity comes from our bodies, not our minds, and if this is true (it gets two big thumbs up from me), we’d do well to avoid allowing the energy within our bodies to be stagnant; we don’t want to be collecting and pooling energy, which blocks our flow and holds back our creative capacity to be fluid and transient.

We want vital force to move through us; in and out of us; from us.

I love and honour the concept of exercising not simply for fitness and feel-good-feelings (though I’m sure we can all agree that that’s reason enough to sweat anyway), but also as a means to serve our creativity. To shake up the stagnation. To feed our books/ projects/ works of art with oxygenated blood cells. The way I see it, that very intention strengthens a spiritual practice.

Spiritual Practice. Creativity. Self-care. Self-love. It’s all the same story, wearing different masks.

When I interviewed beautiful Rach for the Party Girls Guide to Peace, she came out with a one liner that I’ll remember forever: Creativity is directly proportional to self care.

I say boom! to that.

Create Ritual

An out-loud invocation. Your favourite pen. 10 deep, slow breaths. That soundtrack playing in the background. A Do Not Disturb sign hanging protectively on your office door. A three card oracle spread. A mug of dandelion tea. A holler out to Saraswati. A daily word count goal. 60 minutes of carefully carved out time, devoted to your craft. A white light meditation.

You make the rules; this is YOUR church. Set the scene, and allow that muse of yours to come on in and accompany you. Momentum creates momentum.

Release Expectations

And after all’s said and done, release the need to white knuckle the outcome.

I’m still currently in Byron on ‘creative retreat’, and while I came here with an intention to well and truly dive into the second draft of my book, something totally unexpected – and at first, incredibly inconvenient – happened: I realised I was really, really tired.

Like, exhausted.

Like, the thought of editing my book made me feel a little seasick.

That’s worth taking note of, because remember, creativity comes from our bodies, and this body of mine needs rest, and meditation, and beautiful food, and lots of giggles. It’s been a big year.

Choosing to ease back on the ‘pushing’ and instead slide into what feels right in our bodies (no matter how ‘lazy’ that ego within us suggests we are), is an integral part of the creative process. When we feel strong, we create. To feel strong, we must rest.

This post isn’t an invitation to try and be more creative. It’s about removing what’s blocking us from what’s harnessing what’s already lying dormant in our very cells. And I hope with every cell of mine that these words have inspired you to be both gentle and intentional with the way you approach creativity. Whaddya say?

PS: Have you grabbed your 2014 Spirited Companion yet? It’s stirring up a whole lot of love on the interwebs, and Rach and I couldn’t be more stoked with how it turned out. You can also bag the BUNDLE (a combo of the companion and the Spirited eBook) for $39.

 Happy creating, friends!