The Rebirth Of The Couch Potato Formerly Known As Creative

[Dan Goodwin]

Once upon time there was a little potato that had big wide eyed ambitions about what he wanted to be in the potato world.

He began his life with great enthusiasm and passion and had amazing creative potato adventures all over the world.

Then one day, something terrible happened. The potato realised he wasn’t the little passionate potato he used to be.

He found that rather than exploring all the kinds of creative avenues that he used to explore, he was just sitting on his couch all day thinking about these great creative adventures, and how they seemed so very firmly in his past.

What had happened? How was it that he’d suddenly become aware that his creativity and drive had all but vanished, as steadily as his potato waist had expanded?

How had Mr Enthusiastic Creative Potato become Mr Uncreative Couch Potato?

When he gave it some thought, the potato realised that his problems stemmed back to the belief that although he was very creative when he was younger, back then he could create without a care in the world because his allowance of creative ideas and inspiration was full to the brim.

As he’d got older, and as he’d created more and more, a belief had started to creep in that each potato is only allocated a certain finite amount of creativity. Because the potato wasn’t sure if he used up 1% of this allocation, or 99%, he became more and more cautious in his creativity.

With each new project, our potato friend found himself thinking: “Is this going to be it? Will this be the last thing I ever create before my inner creative resources are used up and burnt out?”

This thought alone was enough to depress him and restrict his creativity. It didn’t stop there though, as these thoughts lead to other thoughts, as they have a habit of doing.

“If this is to be my last creative project, then I had better make it the best, most ambitious, most perfect project I’ve ever created” his followy-on thoughts followed on...

This instantly increased the expectation and pressure on himself to come up with some creative masterpiece.

With that kind of pressure, like most potatoes, he simply clammed up and felt unable to create ANYTHING, in case it didn’t live up to his lofty expectations.

So, that seemingly innocent little belief – “I have a finite source of creative ideas and energy” – led to a complete shutdown and descent into uncreative couch potato-ness for our poor little friend.

But fortunately, this story has a happy ending.

The potato had a supportive and creative friend that DIDN’T believe that we all have a limited allocation of creativity.

His friend demonstrated that in fact the more we create, the more our creativity responds and thrives.

When we start to capture our creative ideas, we suddenly find that ideas are all around us, just waiting to be developed.

And so our hero, armed with a healthy new belief that his creativity was an endless wellspring, began creating again. Within just a few months, he felt more creative than he’d done in years.

Most importantly, he thought of himself not as useless uncreative couch potato, but as endlessly creative artist potato once more!

Ok, enough about potatoes. The serious point underlying this story is that our creativity is only limited is we BELIEVE it to be limited. You’re as creative as you want to be, and believe you can be. So what step can you take today to start to regain the kind of creativity you feared you might never be capable of again?

[Amber]

Right back at ya Mary :)

[Mary Hicks]

DITTO! what Amber said, and include Amber in that sentiment too!

[Amber]

Thank you Lin and Barbara for your feedback. I think it's great that we are all here to encourage one another. You guys are awesome!

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Very wise, Amber ... it's true we can't always be "doing", there are times when we need to slow down and just "be" ...

[Lin Neiswender]

Wonderful thoughts, Amber and Marilyn!

[Amber]

I hope things pick back up for you Mary. Just hang in there. I have had so many battles before, and I still do when it comes to unlocking that creative side. Like I said before, I'm learning to be patient.. but it doesn't mean that I always am patient with myself. I really hate the down days, but I know that it will get better. I'm sincerely holding good thoughts for you, and hoping that you will feel "up" again just all around. I'm sorry you're having a down time right now. Just know that someone is thinking of you and praying for you to have brighter days. Lots of love from Oklahoma City,
Amber

[Mary Hicks]

DJ, Do I have to explain what I was doing in Mr. Potato's room? Jeeeeeez...I thought this was CCS!

Amber, I agree with you about the "depression" and "feeling down." After a week of WAY UPS, I'm feeling myself going dowwwwnnn...could be attributed to many factors, but I'm realizing it and paying attention to it. Today I forced myself to do something creative...in my DH's car, waiting for Jonathan to get out of school. I picked up a program and started "re-designing" the cover (a picture of Jesus) just to make myself do something. It helped...for a few minutes!

When you stop and think about your day, and section it into small segments, almost everything you have done can be turned into creativity. My IC just keeps telling me, "NO! That's not being creative!" So I'm working on being assertive with my IC and telling HIM (sorry, Dan) to just get out of my way.

[Amber]

I believe that people who are very creative may also have a tendency towards depression, and can over think projects. I have ran into this myself many times. Trying force a creative flow, or feeling down because I feel as though I've lost my creativity, or looking at a project and thinking "this isn't good enough"... all of these have led me to the place in which I need to be... Patient. Instead of getting down on myself, I feel excited when the flow of creative energy is blazing. As opposed to over thinking a project, I feel proud to have completed one. I'm more patient now when my creative flow is blocked because I know it will come back... it always does. Sometimes it catches me at the oddest moments, which I totally get a kick out of. For all of you out there battling the creative flow or lack of, I challenge you to go easy on yourselves. The world is more colorful because of people like us who are trying to capture something beautiful, write something inspiring, paint a story, and all of the other artistic drives that are happening. Like Claude Monet once said "Each day I hope for you.." Well, each day I hope for all of you. This is such a great community of wonderfully talented people, and I'm so delighted to be a part of it.
"Your real duty it to preserve your dream." -Amedeo Modligliani
Best of luck to you all.
Much Love
Amber

[DJ]

OH MY...computer time is increasing, I'm afraid. And I'm craving potatoes, lately, to accumulate insulation layers for winter, apparently.
But, I'll try to pass on the dinner ROLLS so they don't attach to me...
Makes me wanna go run around the block a couple times...Or, go take a nap, you know, to get away from the computer, of course...
OK = Dan, now, you HAVE to give us all free online SALSA lessons!
Conga line, anyone?

[Lin Neiswender]

(Sounds like my life story Anne)(And I want fries with that!)