This is exactly how I feel about writing! It's life blood! If I don't do my morning pages I feel wrong for the rest of the day, like I'm carrying around a big bag of crap and can't find a place to put it down 😊. And a weekly Substack post is becoming just as essential. I used to think I just needed to write but I now realise that sharing is also an important part of the process. It's definitely worth bothering. 😊
I've written on and off for 30+ years. Sometimes I would go long periods without writing at all - after my daughter was born, I didn't have the capacity (there's that word again) to write much at all for 6 years. But I missed it. Anytime I had a long period of not writing, I always knew I would get back to it eventually because it's a part of who I am. And once not long ago, my mother asked me, hypothetically, if I knew I would never make any money from my writing, would I keep doing it. And it was such an easy answer to say yes. So, definitely, I agree with your thoughts in this post. ❤️
Yes 💯 this is such a key question I think; if you never made/make money with it, would you still do it? As long as I say yes, then I know I’m doing the right thing too
Some stuff just makes sense afterwards. Most of what we have built and now have didn't makes sense while doing it. We feel inspired, do, then later, when everything can be explained, we try to make sense of things. The intuitive mind wins.
True, Ellen. That's why people who don't do often don't get anywhere; they cannot understand beforehand, and in their doing nothing, there's nothing to understand afterwards. They predictably come to false conclusions about things.
I needed to hear this today! I’m still feeling out the creative side of me…the playful, not caring, detached part that worries about the end product. Thanks for reminding me that I NEED to do this. 🩵
Oh I feel you Lindsey!! It’s so easy to get stuck in the modern productivity mindset where everything has “to be something” when the real treasure is in the journey (or making)
I also find that the more I make, the more I want to make. So creativity breeds creativity. And if I'm stuck in a project (say a sculpture), it helps to switch material or process, and maybe just draw for a bit. Shake things up!
💯💯 if I’m ever feeling stuck I always start doing something else too just like you suggest. Manual hand craft has a brilliant way of unblocking writers block…
This piece breathed new inspiration into me, Elin. Thank you! We're often brought up to believe that only a "solid" job will do; and that creativity is something extra that won't put food on the table. Well, we’re just proving them all wrong when we allow our creative juices to flow freely :)
Thanks Sylwia! I’m absolutely thrilled to know it brought inspiration 🙏🏼 through the years of running my art business I’ve always noticed how things “go better” as soon as I don’t block my creativity..
Like so many things in our world, creativity is often valued by how well it fits into the boxes of success our society has created. Although it differentiates from one culture to another, I find the governing principle doesn’t change that much. If it doesn’t fit within the construct, it loses its perceived value. Maybe that’s why it’s so valuable. It is the one thing that has the power to reveal the missing pathway to the life that lives outside of the boxes!
You bring up a very valuable point here how the perceived value varies in different places! I first encountered this when I moved to France first time where art and creativity is valued very high compared to my home country Sweden…
I completely agree that the best things in life are rarely logical! For me, creativity is life giving, regenerative energy. If I don’t do something with my creativity I feel like I don’t have any energy, a bit like an empty vessel. The priest/prayer quote really called to me. Creativity is one of the great mysteries in life. We have no idea where it can take us, or could take us, who responds to our creative work and why. And that’s where the joy is.
The nothing lasts forever is so true. I’ve learned (the hard way) that if I don’t poke into and pry open an idea or download I have about something I want to explore/write, it jumps back into the ethers. And I lose it.
I loved this one, Elin! Keep the creative juices flowing and going!
Creativity is food for the soul, it is what makes life fulfilling. I have had periods of zero creativity and I do not feel like myself, I feel empty. Creating taps into a part of our mind that brings great pleasure and a sense of accomplishment. I find creative people always want to learn more, master more, start more projects. Creatives have to push forward no matter how many unfinished projects they have, there is always more to learn and do.
This is exactly how I feel about writing! It's life blood! If I don't do my morning pages I feel wrong for the rest of the day, like I'm carrying around a big bag of crap and can't find a place to put it down 😊. And a weekly Substack post is becoming just as essential. I used to think I just needed to write but I now realise that sharing is also an important part of the process. It's definitely worth bothering. 😊
Haha big bag of crap 💩 as a visual person I see this very clearly suddenly 😆
I agree, sharing (and interacting/discussing) is just as much part of the process 💞
Haha Michelle! Make sure you put down that bag of crap😉
I haven't missed Morning Pages in ages so it's all good! Thanks! 😂
Because sanity demands it!
💯💯💯
Ah this is so true for me too! I feel more at peace, more at ease with the world when I’m creating.
I've written on and off for 30+ years. Sometimes I would go long periods without writing at all - after my daughter was born, I didn't have the capacity (there's that word again) to write much at all for 6 years. But I missed it. Anytime I had a long period of not writing, I always knew I would get back to it eventually because it's a part of who I am. And once not long ago, my mother asked me, hypothetically, if I knew I would never make any money from my writing, would I keep doing it. And it was such an easy answer to say yes. So, definitely, I agree with your thoughts in this post. ❤️
Yes 💯 this is such a key question I think; if you never made/make money with it, would you still do it? As long as I say yes, then I know I’m doing the right thing too
Some stuff just makes sense afterwards. Most of what we have built and now have didn't makes sense while doing it. We feel inspired, do, then later, when everything can be explained, we try to make sense of things. The intuitive mind wins.
💯💯 there’s actually a word in Swedish for this process that you’re describing “efterklok” it means “wise in the aftermath”
Thanks, Elin. But why does Swedish sound so hard?
Haha well it’s no secret that I’m very grateful my children grow up with French, which I find to be a more beautiful language 😅
So well said… it often times makes no sense while we are doing it… but when the clarity sets in-that’s a great feeling!!
True, Ellen. That's why people who don't do often don't get anywhere; they cannot understand beforehand, and in their doing nothing, there's nothing to understand afterwards. They predictably come to false conclusions about things.
I needed to hear this today! I’m still feeling out the creative side of me…the playful, not caring, detached part that worries about the end product. Thanks for reminding me that I NEED to do this. 🩵
Oh I feel you Lindsey!! It’s so easy to get stuck in the modern productivity mindset where everything has “to be something” when the real treasure is in the journey (or making)
I also find that the more I make, the more I want to make. So creativity breeds creativity. And if I'm stuck in a project (say a sculpture), it helps to switch material or process, and maybe just draw for a bit. Shake things up!
💯💯 if I’m ever feeling stuck I always start doing something else too just like you suggest. Manual hand craft has a brilliant way of unblocking writers block…
It really does feed off of itself, doesn’t it?!?
A life of meaning and purpose is one where we follow our curiosity, it offers a breadcrumb trail to our soul.
Indeed 🥰
Thank goodness none of us make sense following what we love!
That elephant is WOW!
Haha indeed 💯 thank you 🥰💫
This piece breathed new inspiration into me, Elin. Thank you! We're often brought up to believe that only a "solid" job will do; and that creativity is something extra that won't put food on the table. Well, we’re just proving them all wrong when we allow our creative juices to flow freely :)
Thanks Sylwia! I’m absolutely thrilled to know it brought inspiration 🙏🏼 through the years of running my art business I’ve always noticed how things “go better” as soon as I don’t block my creativity..
Your embroidery is beautiful! My mom used to do beautiful embroidery. I never got much past cross-stitch.
Thank you Jennifer 🥰
You made me dig a little deep…
Like so many things in our world, creativity is often valued by how well it fits into the boxes of success our society has created. Although it differentiates from one culture to another, I find the governing principle doesn’t change that much. If it doesn’t fit within the construct, it loses its perceived value. Maybe that’s why it’s so valuable. It is the one thing that has the power to reveal the missing pathway to the life that lives outside of the boxes!
You bring up a very valuable point here how the perceived value varies in different places! I first encountered this when I moved to France first time where art and creativity is valued very high compared to my home country Sweden…
Well I do art because it calms me on so many level (if I’m not having a bad drawing day)
I mean if I have headache and start drawing its gone. But once I stop its back. My little happy moment 😊
Art is the remedy for most things ❣️
I completely agree that the best things in life are rarely logical! For me, creativity is life giving, regenerative energy. If I don’t do something with my creativity I feel like I don’t have any energy, a bit like an empty vessel. The priest/prayer quote really called to me. Creativity is one of the great mysteries in life. We have no idea where it can take us, or could take us, who responds to our creative work and why. And that’s where the joy is.
Exactly! And we’ll never find out unless we follow it and have faith in the process 🙏🏼
The nothing lasts forever is so true. I’ve learned (the hard way) that if I don’t poke into and pry open an idea or download I have about something I want to explore/write, it jumps back into the ethers. And I lose it.
I loved this one, Elin! Keep the creative juices flowing and going!
Thank you so much Allison 🥰
Wow your work is incredible!
Thanks so much 🥰
Creativity is food for the soul, it is what makes life fulfilling. I have had periods of zero creativity and I do not feel like myself, I feel empty. Creating taps into a part of our mind that brings great pleasure and a sense of accomplishment. I find creative people always want to learn more, master more, start more projects. Creatives have to push forward no matter how many unfinished projects they have, there is always more to learn and do.
Indeed food for the soul!! 🥰 I find creativity to create a more colorful life 🙏🏼