Creativity comes most naturally when I am not thinking too much about myself. For example, I just wrote a poem celebrating my mom's 70th birthday with all my sibling's ideas woven in. So easy because 1)I knew I would never try to publish it and 2)I didn't see the poem as a reflection of my worth. It is a celebration of someone else. I actually noticed how different this felt and was wondering if I could repeat this sort of mindset with other creative projects. Your article really resonated with me because I have been thinking about this very thing.
What a wonderful post! I definitely feel that writing for myself feels the best. That’s the joy of substack. I can put it out there to connect but not feel a need for engagement. Almost like a public diary in the way that Facebook or IG were once a public photo album for me. I enjoy looking back through the photos and posts, remembering who I was and what my days were like, and seeing over time how life has changed. When we do anything as a performance or for attention, we risk inauthenticity- what an insightful way to approach writing and creativity too!
I’m really happy as it seems to me that you’re Christian and a therapist and a photographer. Is that all true?? I’m kind of my own personal therapist, Christian, in love with God and how good He is and life is, as hard as it is, and a passionate photographer who started young at 11 and is now 36. It would make me so happy if you are indeed Christian, because faith, photography and maturing in this life are all very important to me! I look forward to your reply knowing you may not attribute your faith to any known God like Jesus.. and that’s okay too, but hoping you do!! Hehe!
Great points. I literally just create all day long…ignoring the world sometimes.
I’m years into this method, and creating comes as natural s as breathing. The only time I’m stuck with anything, I’m sleeping. And then I’m creating in dream as I always have my whole life.
Unencumbered.
I imagine having out trying to create to get paid is going to make that more difficult. But creating just to get better at it. Only takes reading, studying, observing, analysis, experience, and practice.
I love this in the sense of like... not everyone even knows what they're really DOING, too. So we don't need to be in a rush to DOCUMENT and share and post about like the algorithmic overlords say we need to.
I have noticed that as I age my creativity is diminishing. It takes longer to take a thought or idea and put it into a composition. Like it or not, AI is becoming my friend by taking my thoughts and ideas and expanding them into something useful. I then think, "why didn't I think of that".
Creativity comes most naturally when I am not thinking too much about myself. For example, I just wrote a poem celebrating my mom's 70th birthday with all my sibling's ideas woven in. So easy because 1)I knew I would never try to publish it and 2)I didn't see the poem as a reflection of my worth. It is a celebration of someone else. I actually noticed how different this felt and was wondering if I could repeat this sort of mindset with other creative projects. Your article really resonated with me because I have been thinking about this very thing.
Okay. This means a whole lot right here. Thank you Blake.
What a wonderful post! I definitely feel that writing for myself feels the best. That’s the joy of substack. I can put it out there to connect but not feel a need for engagement. Almost like a public diary in the way that Facebook or IG were once a public photo album for me. I enjoy looking back through the photos and posts, remembering who I was and what my days were like, and seeing over time how life has changed. When we do anything as a performance or for attention, we risk inauthenticity- what an insightful way to approach writing and creativity too!
I’m really happy as it seems to me that you’re Christian and a therapist and a photographer. Is that all true?? I’m kind of my own personal therapist, Christian, in love with God and how good He is and life is, as hard as it is, and a passionate photographer who started young at 11 and is now 36. It would make me so happy if you are indeed Christian, because faith, photography and maturing in this life are all very important to me! I look forward to your reply knowing you may not attribute your faith to any known God like Jesus.. and that’s okay too, but hoping you do!! Hehe!
Great points. I literally just create all day long…ignoring the world sometimes.
I’m years into this method, and creating comes as natural s as breathing. The only time I’m stuck with anything, I’m sleeping. And then I’m creating in dream as I always have my whole life.
Unencumbered.
I imagine having out trying to create to get paid is going to make that more difficult. But creating just to get better at it. Only takes reading, studying, observing, analysis, experience, and practice.
My creativity gets stuck when my unconscious mind is processing something. Bubbling the unconscious concern up typically opens other channels.
I love this in the sense of like... not everyone even knows what they're really DOING, too. So we don't need to be in a rush to DOCUMENT and share and post about like the algorithmic overlords say we need to.
I have noticed that as I age my creativity is diminishing. It takes longer to take a thought or idea and put it into a composition. Like it or not, AI is becoming my friend by taking my thoughts and ideas and expanding them into something useful. I then think, "why didn't I think of that".