Creativity Coaching : Dan Goodwin : How to Fall in Love with Creating Again

How to Fall in Love with Creating Again

By Dan Goodwin

One of the major reasons why we don’t create more freely and abundantly is simply because we’ve forgotten how to enjoy it.

Think about how this has happened in your creative life. It may be that you’ve had so many negative experiences surrounding creativity that going to create doesn’t fill you with the same enthusiasm and passion as it once did.

Times when you’ve felt completely blocked and unable to come up with a single idea, criticism from others (and yourself), the pressures of other commitments, and not creating regularly enough to find your flow are just a few of the factors that have meant creating in recent times has been a struggle at best. At worst it’s been nothing but a source of pain and frustration.

As a result, you now only associate creativity with negative, unpleasant experiences, not the kind of freeing and joyful experiences it can bring just as easily.

Under these kind of conditions, it’s no wonder your creativity has dried up, and now even the thought of creating sounds about as appealing as trip to the dentist for root canal work without anesthetic.

So what can you do? How can you reverse these negative associations?

It’s time to fall in love with your creativity again, to rediscover the many reasons why you create, and why you need to create once more.

So here’s a 5 step plan to rekindle your passion:

1. Remember a time when you were highly creative. We’ve all had periods of great creativity, however fleeting they may have been. Spend time recalling how some of these felt. What did you see around you, what could you hear, what were you saying to yourself? How did it FEEL to be that creative? Get back into the experience as fully as you can.
   
   
2. Gather evidence of your creativity. It’s easy to forget how much you’ve created and been proud of. Document everything you can think of creating that you’ve enjoyed and been pleased with. This doesn’t just mean grand events like writing a novel or a gallery exhibition. It can be anything from cooking a delicious meal, writing a letter or making an Artist Trading Card upwards. You’ll be amazed how much you’ve done and since forgotten. Write it all down.
   
   
3. Ask “What does creating give me that nothing else can?” As most creative people will attest, creativity is not a choice, it’s a way of life. Ask yourself — and honestly answer — what creating gives you that nothing else in the world can. Get in touch with how important is to you and what a core part of your life it is.
   
   
4. Ask “What would my life be like if I could never create again?” This is the other side of step 3. Imagine you were completely unable to create in any way ever again. What kind of impact would that have? What would a life completely and utterly lacking in creativity actually be like? Spend a little time there, see how it feels.
   
   
5. Commit to a new creative routine. By now you’ll be well on your way to falling in love with creating again, and realising how important it is to you. Now it’s time to actually put this desire into action. Set yourself the simple plan of creating for 15 minutes at the same time each day for the next 15 days. Choose a time when you’re naturally more creative. Commit to this for 15 days — after completing the first 4 steps above — and the difference to your creativity will be profound...

Use this 5 step method to fall in love with your creativity again. Start today, there’s never been a better time.

Remember, creativity is for life. And you’re never too old to fall in love again... •

© Copyright 2007 Dan Goodwin

About the Author | More by Dan Goodwin
Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin is the author of “Create Create!”, a FREE twice monthly ezine for people who want simple and powerful articles, tips and exercises to help them unleash their creative talents. Sign up right now and get your FREE “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook, at www.CoachCreative.com.

10/09/07