This helped surface something tangential to describe where I am (I mean, "completely detached from [my] creativity" was pretty on the nose). It's a seasonal, but also an agricultural analogy, maybe a combination of the "receptive" and the "transformational; I'll now be describing my career break as a "fallow year"— letting the soil recuperate for whatever comes next
The awareness that it comes in seasons (and sometimes, for me at least, short spurts) was life-changing for me, because it allowed me to embrace it more fully when it comes and do the same for others. I will rearrange my calendar when I'm having a creative burst, knowing it won't last forever. And since realizing this, I also became more patient with others when I see they're in the middle of a creative season, lowering my expectations of the day-to-day, allowing them to focus on the creating.
“On the outside this looks like “peak” creativity. But on the inside, I’ve felt quite removed from so many conditions that allow my Creative Health to thrive: Incubation time. Savoring beauty. The freedom to creatively struggle without a deadline attached.” -you wrote
I think about how unruly and unbound creativity is in its essence. Sometimes it feels like running around with the net trying to catch the damn thing.
Sometimes it’s just about sitting with the net in hand and NOT going after the ….idea,image,perfect sentences. Being removed from those conditions that allow creative health to thrive is a disconnected,even homeless feeling. The more I give myself up to this creative life,the more aware I am when I am not receiving but rather pushing,forcing.This is not the kind of home I want to live in. Incubation time isn’t negotiable-we have to have it in order to
“find our way home “. I am remembering my father,a painter,who would sit in his studio and just stare at the work he had in front of him,fall into a nap in the afternoon,or stare out into space. It was a perplexing thing to see,until I found myself following in his footsteps and doing the same thing….actually in the same studio space. I have a better understanding and appreciation for his seemingly unproductive process. Eventually the theme would emerge from his incubation time. I think to be this way, to savor and do it freely, produces the more interesting and original creations.
My afterthought: This last year I have made a conscious decision to not over book my time with anyone or any event so that there is more breathing room for me to just do nothing but be. We live in an over saturated and overcrowded and over extended time. For me to feel creatively alive,that being home experience,there has to be the grace of time to incubate. It took some getting over feeling guilty for saying no to invitations,the reward is experiencing reconnection.
Just a note to say I love what you are doing here. 'Creative Scientist'?!?! What a concept! Looking forward to the TED talk and digging into your archive. All the best❣️
This helped surface something tangential to describe where I am (I mean, "completely detached from [my] creativity" was pretty on the nose). It's a seasonal, but also an agricultural analogy, maybe a combination of the "receptive" and the "transformational; I'll now be describing my career break as a "fallow year"— letting the soil recuperate for whatever comes next
Ooh I love this so much!! I think the link between creativity and nature is such a helpful visual. What a perfect term :)
The awareness that it comes in seasons (and sometimes, for me at least, short spurts) was life-changing for me, because it allowed me to embrace it more fully when it comes and do the same for others. I will rearrange my calendar when I'm having a creative burst, knowing it won't last forever. And since realizing this, I also became more patient with others when I see they're in the middle of a creative season, lowering my expectations of the day-to-day, allowing them to focus on the creating.
I love what you wrote here, especially your being patient with others.Thank you.
“On the outside this looks like “peak” creativity. But on the inside, I’ve felt quite removed from so many conditions that allow my Creative Health to thrive: Incubation time. Savoring beauty. The freedom to creatively struggle without a deadline attached.” -you wrote
I think about how unruly and unbound creativity is in its essence. Sometimes it feels like running around with the net trying to catch the damn thing.
Sometimes it’s just about sitting with the net in hand and NOT going after the ….idea,image,perfect sentences. Being removed from those conditions that allow creative health to thrive is a disconnected,even homeless feeling. The more I give myself up to this creative life,the more aware I am when I am not receiving but rather pushing,forcing.This is not the kind of home I want to live in. Incubation time isn’t negotiable-we have to have it in order to
“find our way home “. I am remembering my father,a painter,who would sit in his studio and just stare at the work he had in front of him,fall into a nap in the afternoon,or stare out into space. It was a perplexing thing to see,until I found myself following in his footsteps and doing the same thing….actually in the same studio space. I have a better understanding and appreciation for his seemingly unproductive process. Eventually the theme would emerge from his incubation time. I think to be this way, to savor and do it freely, produces the more interesting and original creations.
My afterthought: This last year I have made a conscious decision to not over book my time with anyone or any event so that there is more breathing room for me to just do nothing but be. We live in an over saturated and overcrowded and over extended time. For me to feel creatively alive,that being home experience,there has to be the grace of time to incubate. It took some getting over feeling guilty for saying no to invitations,the reward is experiencing reconnection.
Just a note to say I love what you are doing here. 'Creative Scientist'?!?! What a concept! Looking forward to the TED talk and digging into your archive. All the best❣️