The Creative Bug is Fleeting

Perfection can be our enemy because it tends to zap that initial spark. Instead, we fret about details, and before we know it, we’ve lost the thing that led us on our journey down an untried road.

My husband shared the above video with me this morning. “I thought of you when I watched it,” he stated. Why? Because I’m often the one relaying the very things that Mary shared with her audience. I try to inspire people by telling them that it’s OK to try. It’s OK to “put it out there”. Don’t wait because it will never be the right time.

“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.” ― Julia Cameron

Recently, one of my clients was experiencing “cold feet.” He was afraid to hit the “publish” button. This occurred several times as we tidied up the last-minute details. It’s time.Yet, he couldn’t do it. At one point, he informed me he didn’t want to publish at all.

“I think I’ll rewrite the whole thing,” he declared.

But I wouldn’t let him do that. I could predict the outcome.

“If you don’t do it now, it will never happen. That manuscript will remain as a forgotten file on your computer and never see the light of day.”

“Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.” ―Bruce Garrabrandt.

It’s not only procrastination that hinders our creativity, but also all the unwanted interruptions that we allow to get in the way. The phone call. The text messages. The people that we say yes to, when we really want time to ourselves. So, we say no to our inner being, and yes to everyone and everything else. And, the moment is gone, never to return. Sure, other opportunities might arise, but how often do we repeat this process? We can be our own worst enemies.

The time is now because creativity is fleeting and fragile.