If you are struggling to find time for your creative projects or find that your busy life has left little room for even a tiny bit inspirational musing, it only means that you might have to step back, reevaluate what’s going on around you, and infuse a little simplicity into your world.
Of course, and how well I know, there are always, always more things to accomplish in a day than the hours allow, but if your relationships, focus, art, inspiration, and joy is diminished because of all that you are juggling, then not only are you wasting time on things that will ultimately not be remembered or matter, but the happiness and inspiration that you are due, the very breath of creativity, will be kept at arm’s length.
Stereotypically, artists and creative types like us are not known for their talent in self-care. The neurotic, tragic, unsatisfied artist, struggling to breakout and jazz the world is what is expected. I think that’s just dandy for those souls who wish to live and work that way. It just doesn’t work for me. Oh, it used to. It just doesn’t anymore!
Each of us has our own maximum output, stress levels, and coping mechanisms. What seems boring to me might be all you can handle while trying hopelessly to stay sane. Keeping your life simple, and what choices you make to make that happen, is very individual and you cannot compare yourself to others. You need to find your own pace and your own boundaries and limits, while absolutely making time to nurture your creative gifts.
Keeping in mind that taking care of yourself — not being to hungry, too tired, too hurried, too angry, or too lonely — allows you to become more creatively centered, thus permitting your innermost feelings to pass through you and into your art and process. It’s a very simple concept, really, but until you get the hang of it, it may not be that easy to hammer home. It takes practice as well as vigilance. If you keep plugging away at being in touch with your feelings, and what you need, taking care of yourself and simplifying your life will become natural and automatic.
Simplifying your life, even just a little, will lead you to a better quality of life, better relationships with others (and yourself) and an enhanced, clearer inspired direction in your creative pursuits.
© Pickle Road Studio, LLC
I hope you enjoy my creative thoughts for hobbyists and crafters. I post new blog thought entries every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday’s are reserved for Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski’s guests and new creative personalities that you’ll want to know and learn about. Of course, I sprinkle things happening on Pickle Road throughout the week.
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As always, I love to hear about your creative life, wins and challenges! Leave a comment here or email me at CreativeMojo@me.com. Create and laugh through this week. And , as always, always do what you love! xoxom
At some point, for me, working with fabric became a stress reliever. Now, I can press a few pieces of fabric or rearrange some scraps (read: fondle fabric) and I can feel my stress levels decrease. I also feel the converse. When I do not take even a little bit of time to work with fabric, I start to feel angry and resentful. I agree that we need to get over the neurotic, tragic, unsatisfied artist personality within us and work on achieving small goals. A masterwork on every page in our art journals just isn’t going to happen. Also, creativity breeds creativity. If you do one small creative thing every day, I want to do another creative thing the next day and I get better at those creative things.
Jaye
http://artquiltmaker.com/blog
“creativity breeds creativity”. love that. it is so true.
Well said Jaye… and always relevant and inspirational, wondeful Mark!
Debby
Pot. Kettle. Black. Mark, my dear friend, PLEASE make sure you are taking your own advice! If you do, I promise I will, too, okay?
Jaye, I agree in that I feel better when I fondle the beads, floss, etc. We need to cut ourselves some slack if we don’t get huge projects done every day. But, we do need to do something creative every day.
You’ve come through a rough spot astoundingly well, Mark. I think I’m going to hit some speed bumps over these next months, but I’m inspired by your Creative Mojo. Thanks for your daily words of encouragement!
Thanks Mark, I needed the message today!
You take care and enjoy this week.
Words of wisdom, Mark.
Simple is good–thanks Mark!