WCT2012 #1 - Getting Out Of The Way Of Yourself

[Dan Goodwin]

Welcome to the first Weekly Creativity Thread (WCT) of 2012. 

This week we're talking about getting out of the way of ourselves. To elaborate a little more, what I mean by this is removing the blocks and obstacles we tend to throw in our own paths that stop us creating as freely as we could do.

Another way to describe this might be the ways you sabotage your creativity.

As before, here are three questions to ponder to start the conversation. Have a read and a think, then share your thoughts and comments with us as a reply below. 

1. What are some of the ways you get in the way of yourself creating? What do you find yourself doing that stops you getting to the page/canvas/lens at all? What are some of the ways you trip yourself up and get in the way whilst you're actually trying to create? 

2. What can you do, and what have you done in the past, to help you realise when you're getting in the way of yourself, or self-sabotaging? How can you be more vigilant and increase your awareness?

3. What are you afraid will happen if you did you get out of the way of yourself long enough to create your most amazing work? 

Looking forward to hearing everyone's input.

Dan

[donna]

1. That awful perfectionistic gene is so hard to shut off. That has been a HUGE roadblock for me. Also, life gets in my way in the area of trying to please everyone else leaving no me time. Self doubt is also what crawls in when I am trying something new. Sometimes it is the people around me who are not the creative sort who make comments like, "what are you doing? That doesn't look right." I should know that they hav never graced the doors of a museum so why would I listen to their critque anyway?

2. Lately I have been involved in some soul searching classes. I am learning to mediate and allow inner self to come alive. That is where the creative spirit lives and does the best work. Shutting out the world, finding that place where I can release the reality of now and move into the comfort of me. Harder than it sounds but I have found some incredible work has come out of it. I was thinking about the wire ATC Christmas cards I sent out, that was such a risk and something new. My inner self was pushing me to go for it but the "reality" self was really giving me what for but I trusted in the process and endured the torment. It was risky but I felt good about them. Art is about the creator, and feeling good about what you have done not the outside folks.

3. I am "getting out of the way" of my fears. Having experienced it more often as of late I see how wrong I have been to tke the creative risks. But man, does it not feel so awesome to let go and do! It is one of those natural highs that tops anything. Stepping back and looking at what I created and knowing it was coming from a place of meaning and soul, I am ok with what has manifested. It may not look great to others but it is a reflect of the inner creative spirit at the moment. It has meaning and relavance to me which is the only person that counts. Might never exhibit in a museum or publish millions of copies but it was part of my creative spiritual soul at the moment and the biggest exhibition is held within my heart, soul and mind. No one will ever be me so how could anyone appreciate it as much as me because I was "in the moment."

[Dan Goodwin]

Hi Donna,

So it sounds like much of your reply to no 1 is about letting other people's opinions overshadow or muddle yours? Rather than having faith that you know what you're doing and would rather be left to get on with it. 

Really interesting how your response to no 2 follows this, how you are finding ways to listen to your inner self more and give it more space and freedom. Excellent to hear how it's helping you. 

3. is a wonderful expression of the joy of creating, for the sake of creating, and exploring and expressing what you were feeling and inspired by in that moment. I think there's too little of this kind of creativity these days, most of us are far too caught up in the outcome/result than in giving our all to the moment. So it makes us safe, hold back, and compromise. Surely our creativity is one personal area of our lives where we don't need to compromise or conform to anyone esle's idea(l)s? Like you said, art is about the creator...

[di]

Donna..........love THIS!   .............."it was part of my creative spiritual soul at the moment and the biggest exhibition is held within my heart, soul and mind. No one will ever be me so how could anyone appreciate it as much as me because I was "in the moment."

di

[Trina Adermonn]

1. I am guilty of putting others first and my own needs last. Procrastination is another.  I don't plan enough time for my art. I have been really consciously trying to give myself a certain amount of time each day, each week to work in some quality drawing time. And more importantly, a time when the house is quiet and I can be at peace to listen to whatever music I like and create to.  I have blank canvas angst. So whenever I start a new piece, I may have to do some warm up exercises on another piece of paper and move on to the real work at hand.

2. I talk to myself mentally and give myself a stern lecture on getting right with myself.  I try to really listen and control the negative chatter that goes on inside my head. I also in the past year have had to cut off ties with those folks who add to that negative chatter. People who don't build me up as a person but who constantly seek to rip me apart for whatever reason...are no longer in my close circle of friends. Sad as it is. It's just something I have to do now.

3. I worry how it would change my life. I have been working on that issue too. I keep telling myself that if others have a problem with me and my success then maybe they shouldn't have that big of a space reserved in my close inner knit circle. Time will tell if I am right or wrong on this.