I hope you’ve got a sec because part 8/10 in my series about blasting through creative blocks has arrived! Join me on an adventure through today’s topic but make sure you stick around for the mind-boggling journal prompt at the end.
Time, that slippery fiend, had to make it into this series eventually (no time like the present!).
Rather than dig into why time is a huge creative block, I thought I’d take a different approach. One that draws in other voices to hopefully show you that your addiction to time doesn’t need to be so damaging.
Today’s Creative Urge wishes to expand your perception of what it means to create IN the moment, rather than create towards an outcome.
“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once” – Albert Einstein
We live in a world obsessed with time. A world where ‘time is money’, ‘good things take time’ and ‘time is no man’s friend’.
It’s easy to see why our relationship to the minutes, hours and days is fraught – even more so if you’re a Creative (e.g. billable time, #IYKYK).
But one way I like to use time is as a buffer when I’ve got a million things flying at me, all at once.
If I didn’t define my work week, schedule things in my calendar or take note of how long things actually take, my brain would dip into overwhelm faster than Picasso dipped into his next muse!
This sounds overly simple, but don’t be afraid to let time be the reason you say NO to people, opportunities and commitments.
“To live in this world, you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.” – Mary Oliver
Speaking of saying NO, be prepared for a wave of grief to follow. It might also present as ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out) or even anger (“I wish I had more time!”).
As Mary hints, we have to learn how to let go of what we love… for you, that’s knowing when the time is right to release your creative work into the world.
A HUGE blocker for most Creatives is that they cling onto work that’s finished because they don’t want to let go, spouting excuses like, “it’s not ready yet” or (my fave) “I just need to tweak one little thing”.
Love, dear friends, is a verb – it’s something you DO. As a creative, love happens when you’re creating, so make sure you share, not squander, it.
“Only the [person] that isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat” – Jean-Paul Sartre
I think about this quote a LOT when I get stuck. Why?
It reminds me that I always have two options: complain about not creating or just start creating.
Granted, we all know it’s more complicated than that, but sometimes keeping it THAT simple is enough to get your oars in the water.
One thing I’ll add to this is that ‘creating’ includes EVERYTHING you do that keeps your creativity alive:
Thinking, dreaming and planning work
Reading, researching and consuming inspiration
Making, editing and reviewing your work
Getting feedback and implementing it
Sharing, innovating and evolving your practice.
If you’re rowing (working), you won’t have time to rock the boat (get stuck).
Journal prompt
How much time have you wasted complaining about not having time Actually calculate it: What could you have created instead?
Creatively yours,
Dr Maz xoxo
PS: Our tribe of paid subscribers is growing! I can’t wait to absolutely unleash on you all starting next month. This 10 part series will wrap up by the end of April, then we’ll be into totally new territory… I’ve become quite passionate about AI’s impact on creativity, so you better believe there’ll be some tips, tricks and invitations coming your way.
A strong piece! The quotations you used added SO much staying power to your points. Time is frequently oppressive to those with attention disorders; this post made me feel a little more hopeful. :)