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Creativity - Part 2
Even with many and various suggestions, the question still is, "Where do I start?"
Really. That's it. Just look at where you are and plunge in. Don't worry if it's right or wrong, good or bad, just do it. For me, starting is always the most difficult part. But it's sort of like uncorking a bottle. It might take some effort to get the cork out, but once the bottle is open, things can flow easily. "But I don't know…" Yes, there will always be "buts," and indecision, and panic, and a sense of fear that you might make a big mistake. This is monkey mind sitting on your shoulder, whispering in your ear. "You're a fake." "You have no talent." "Who are you trying to fool." "People will hate it." These are all just monkey mind getting in our way of starting.
This first thing to do is to admit that monkey mind is always present. That it's always going to be there to whisper in your ear. But you also need to realize that you can tell it to go away and leave you alone. So quiet your mind and start.
Keep doing this, but don't stop to self edit or criticize. Even if what you start with doesn't seem that great, keep going. Sometimes it takes a while to dig deep enough to get to the good stuff. Realize that you can always edit things later. So if your beginning isn't that great, you can cut it later and have things start where it gets good.
One way to think of being creative is like taking a walk. Go out your door and just start walking. If something on the left seems interesting, turn to the left and go there. If it's really interesting, hang out there a while. If not, keep on moving.
How do you work with your creativity?
~ MB
Even with many and various suggestions, the question still is, "Where do I start?"
Start here —> • Right where you are.
Really. That's it. Just look at where you are and plunge in. Don't worry if it's right or wrong, good or bad, just do it. For me, starting is always the most difficult part. But it's sort of like uncorking a bottle. It might take some effort to get the cork out, but once the bottle is open, things can flow easily. "But I don't know…" Yes, there will always be "buts," and indecision, and panic, and a sense of fear that you might make a big mistake. This is monkey mind sitting on your shoulder, whispering in your ear. "You're a fake." "You have no talent." "Who are you trying to fool." "People will hate it." These are all just monkey mind getting in our way of starting.
Monkey Mind is a Buddhist term meaning "unsettled; restless; capricious; whimsical; fanciful; inconstant; confused; indecisive; uncontrollable" - Wikipedia
This first thing to do is to admit that monkey mind is always present. That it's always going to be there to whisper in your ear. But you also need to realize that you can tell it to go away and leave you alone. So quiet your mind and start.
Start with just one note.
Then add another.
Then maybe another.
Then add some space.
Keep doing this, but don't stop to self edit or criticize. Even if what you start with doesn't seem that great, keep going. Sometimes it takes a while to dig deep enough to get to the good stuff. Realize that you can always edit things later. So if your beginning isn't that great, you can cut it later and have things start where it gets good.
One way to think of being creative is like taking a walk. Go out your door and just start walking. If something on the left seems interesting, turn to the left and go there. If it's really interesting, hang out there a while. If not, keep on moving.
How do you work with your creativity?
~ MB
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