What's the single biggest issue you struggle with in being more creative?

[Dan Goodwin]

What's the single biggest issue you struggle with in being more creative?

Is it procrastination?

Trying to make everything perfect, constantly wrestling with your inner critic?

Coming up with new ideas or developing existing ones?

Focusing on one creative project, and actually finishing something?

Finding enough (or any!) time to create?

Something else?

Let us know what's blocking your creativity most right now, that if you could overcome it would mean your creativity would soar to new levels...

[Hannah]

Do you really think there's no such thing as a the wrong direction? Or the wrong outcome? I used to think so but found otherwise.

[Dan Goodwin]

In art, you can always learn from a taking a direction that didn't turn out like you thought it would. And if we don't take a risk sometimes we'll never evolve, or be able to come across "happy accidents" that just can't be planned.

[craig sutherland]

My biggest problem I am dealing with and have been dealing with for around four years now is minimization. I am constantly ruining my creativity and even my own listening pleasures by telling myself that music means nothing and even typing this makes me realize how crazy it is but I am beside myself. I just cant stop this. Its wasting so much in my life.

[Dan Goodwin]

Hi Craig, firstly welcome to CCS... : )

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Do you mean that you tell yourself that your own music means nothing, or ii isn't good enough in some way?

What have you created and recorded that you've enjoyed and that you've been proud of?

Dan

[craig sutherland]

Thanks for getting in touch so fast! My problem is with music all together, because it is the biggest thing in my life my mind is destroying it. Telling myself all the time that its nothing when deep down I know how meaningful and deep it is. But its just like a black fog covering all the goodness from listening to great music which ultimately stops me creating!

I'm quite proud of the music on my myspace website...it's not where I want to be yet but I do rate it as getting closer but that was recorded way back in February an I've done nothing since.

[Dan Goodwin]

Being "quite proud" and "getting closer" sounds like you're right on track Craig. Many people don't give their creative efforts any credibility which obviously severely limits them.

Imagine for a moment that you allow yourself to believe - without ifs, buts, or doubts - that music IS meaningful and deep and plays an important role on your life. What would your life be like then? How would this influence how you created your own music?

Dan

[craig sutherland]

Thanks Dan...Yeah life would be perfect if I could do that.I would be able to create freely without this damn cloud hanging over me.


Thanks

C

[Christopher Stewart]

Hey C,

A musician-Buddhist trick : when that kind of thinking happens, bring your focus to another sense consciousness... the ears for instance...

In other words : don't think about it, listen to it... your heart knows, your mind just think it does...

If you have to think about it, then think something along those lines : music is meaningful by nature... it expresses what words and images cannot... imagine a movie without a soundtrack...


I just posted a piece about my music making and my spiritual practice on my profile. Here's an excerpt :

"Music for me is also spiritual practice. The inspiration and elevation it provides is undeniable, and the many insights I have had while practicing an instrument or rehearsing a part are too numerous to recount. Music picks me up when I let reason bring me down, restores my energy levels when I feel tired, sustains me through lengthy work sessions, and generally brings me to a state of inner peace and deep joy."

Your answer is in your music... when the cloud threatens, bring your attention back to your music, the experience of it, not the thought of it...

Hope it helps !

Best wishes,
Chris

[craig sutherland]

Thankyou so much for taking the time to help me chris...everything you say makes a lot of sense and I will do my best in the next few days to put that into practice.

Thanks again and i'll hopefully talk to again soon.


C

[Dan Goodwin]

Christopher, what a brilliant and thoughtful response!

[Christopher Stewart]

Thanks Dan ! ;o)

[sabrina]

Dan it is nice to see that some other people believe that music is their
passion, and they keep pursuing it. Sometimes I become discouraged
and wonder if it's worth all the time and energy that it takes to become
a singer/ songwriter. I am truly unhappy when I am not creating what I want the most in my life. Having worked with two guitarists and singing
a few years ago, I realize that I don't choose to do anything else.
My family doesn't need me as much as they did before because all of
my children are adults, and I have more time for my music.
Anyway I have a friend who shared some information about a vocal
instructor who lives in NYC so I made the decision to travel there
and meet with her. This has been some journey and I have taken a leap of
faith because I trusted my intuition that I was meant to see her for a reason. I have never been to NYC and it was so exciting just to drive through the City. If I decide to continue working with her I will need to
take a bus, because it's a distance from our area.
Fear of the unknow has always been on my list. Im not sure if I am afraid
of failure or success. I know that I can't be where I would enjoy being
concerning my art, until I process where I am at this moment.

Sabrina