(Plus, what happens when you DO)
I talk a lot about doing your true creative work–but why does it matter? Why is it important to do your TRUE creative work?
It matters because if your true creative work is stifled, it affects every area of your life.
When you stop up your deepest creative urges, you block the flow of life through you–and the negative effects leak out into the rest of your life.
Years ago, I struggled every day to write. Some days I managed it. Other days failure-fearing, desperately procrastinating part of me won out. I lived in a state of dissatisfaction–with my writing career, my life, and everything around me.
On days when I didn’t write, my frustration seeped into everything. I was annoyed about people on the subway. Things my boyfriend said. Taking time to do errands, wash clothes, clean my apartment.
I resented the time I spent at my money-making jobs. Even though I was great at what I did, I was always holding back because it wasn’t my “real” work… so I rose, but never to the top of my field.
Meanwhile, I stuffed my frustration down with busy work, escapist reading, and surfing the internet.
If you’re not doing your true creative work, there are big costs for you too.
You might tell yourself it’s enough to raise a loving family, to contribute to society through the job you do. You might say your creative “day job” or commercial work is enough.
But deep down, you know that’s not true. You know you want more.
Denying that truth squashes your soul. Slowly but surely, you are letting yourself die.
I don’t exaggerate, by the way.
Your soul is at stake, and so is your health.
Months, years, and decades of frustration, irritation, and self-denial… what does that do to your body? Depression. Anxiety. A lower immune response. High blood pressure. Heart disease. And more.
The biggest thing you can do for your health is to seek joy.
So how do you choose joy–and do the creative work that feeds your soul?
Step 1: Commit
Make the choice that you WILL do your TRUE creative work.
It’s not enough to want it or try for it: you must make an absolute commitment to doing your true creative work. When you “hope” and “try,” the underlying belief is “I wish for this, but I’m not fully committing because I don’t really believe I can do it.”
When you say “I will have this. I will find a way, no matter what,” you cut off all other alternatives in your mind. And that creates an ENTIRELY different energy and result.
When you STOP imagining how you might fail and ONLY look for ways to succeed (yes, this takes conscious choice again and again, in each moment!), you will see opportunities and choices you would have overlooked before. The way will open.
Step 2: Take steps to keep yourself from backing out
Even after committing, your body and mind will naturally pull you back towards your default way of doing things. You need to put structures in place to keep you moving forward.
There are three key ways to do this:
- Money: Make a big investment in yourself or your creative work. When you invest a large amount in yourself, you’ll do the work to move through blocks and reach your goals because you don’t want to lose the money you invested.
- Public declaration: Commit to your goal PUBLICLY. When you tell people what you commit to, you’ll be motivated to act because you don’t want others to see you quit or fail.
- Big action: Take immediate, bold action that requires you to take the next step toward your goal.
To get life-changing results, do all three.
I’ve used all three of these, again and again, in my own life and with clients. They work.
Step 3: Put in place ongoing support for your true creative work
- Hire a coach: Don’t waste months or years floundering around in DIY mode. Get support and guidance from someone who knows the way. (I’ve been working with coaches for more than twenty years; without that support, I would not be where I am today.)
- Find community: If you came from a family or community that doesn’t believe strongly in the value of creative work, part of you might be afraid that if you pursue your creative work, you’ll end up alone. Find a community of people who support your new way of life.
- Set aside time: Create time in your schedule. What is the OPTIMAL schedule that lets you create at your best, most inspired time? How do you need to shift your schedule so it supports the life you want? What will you say no to so you can say yes to your creative work?
- Invest in personal growth: Do the deep work to transform your fears and blocks. Without this, you’ll be pushing a boulder up a hill. But when you transform your fears and blocks, you will open to higher and higher level opportunities–and accelerate your progress toward your goal.
When you do your true creative work, EVERYTHING changes. Your energy shifts, and you magnetize people, opportunities, ideas, adventure, love, money… because people are just drawn to creative expansion and sheer joy. You experience an unprecedented level of success… because you’re drawing on your highest talents, in love with what you do, and doing your most brilliant work.
It’s the magic of creation–and once you make it the foundation of your life, you can never go back.
P.S. I’ve put together a program designed to help you do your TRUE creative work and finally go for the CREATIVE SUCCESS you’ve been longing for. You’ll move past your blocks… uncover your truest, best creative work… and DO the creative work you’ve been longing to do. And, you’ll also discover the unseen opportunities already in your world so you can take a dramatic leap in your creative career.
This is a high-level program for ambitious creative people who are ready for big results. If that’s you, email me and let’s talk.
