Monday, September 20, 2021

Getting Creative Again

So many things can derail you from your music, your art, or whatever creative thing you do. Jobs, marriage, kids, divorce, or worst of all, the loss of a loved one.

As someone who has lost two dear and important people to me in the last month, I am struggling to find my creative spark.

Maybe this has happened to you. 

Your job is important to supporting your family, but your time and energy there have left you depleted at the end of the day.

Being a full-time (or part-time) parent can be all-consuming, but it is important work.

Any number of things can stop your creative work in its tracks and leave you wondering how to pick up the pieces and get back to it.

Back to Work

As I talked about in my last post, creative success is just about working at it. Sometimes to get going again it’s just about getting back on the horse and trying.

Sometimes work can be cathartic. If like me you write down lists and steps to get things done, you can find solace in the list. Take a step. Get something done. Use it as a guide even when you don’t feel like it. You will feel worse if you do nothing and possibly add to your depression.

Take an action step you have outlined and just…try. Make that call. Email that person. Work on that song. Pick up the brush or guitar or pen and add something to a work you started.

For me in my grief right now that’s the only thing I know to do. It’s who I am and only by doing what I do can I honor those I have lost.

For you, maybe it’s been a long time since you seriously pursued your art. It’s NEVER too late. Focus on your goals. Maybe they have changed or maybe they are the same as always. Whatever they are, make an action plan to get there. Make a list. Do a thing. Rinse and repeat.

Most people will tell you take some time after a loss, or that art isn’t important and there’s no way you can do it and your job, your marriage, your parenting, or any life-altering thing that may stop you from creating. 

I call “fiddlesticks” (sorry for the language. But there's a reason why.)

Time is Finite

I can tell you from recent experience, you just never know how much time you have left on this earth. God may have given you something important to do, and life has just gotten in the way. While it’s never too late to do your life’s work, our time here on this earth is limited. We have to get to work now on what we were put here to do. That’s never been as apparent and obvious as it is to me right now.

This reminder of how little time is left may even lead me to change the way I structure not just my life, but my business as well. Time will tell, and time will keep on ticking (into the future…)

Maybe you also see the limited amount of time you have to finish what you feel is your life’s work. If so, then like me, perhaps you need to reevaluate your priorities and processes, and make a change to do your creative work better, smarter, and more effectively.

Finish Strong

No matter were you are in the race we are all running, trying to get everything done in our lives, we can still try and finish strong. No matter what terrible things, lovely things, or just mundane things that derail us from time to time in our creative journey, we can get back to it. Get back to creating, and find the success we felt was just around the corner.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” - Philippians 3:13 (NIV)

Have a great week!

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1 comment:

  1. Continuing to think about you these days as you find your way.

    ReplyDelete

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About the Author

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Eric Copeland is an author, producer, keyboardist, songwriter, and president of Creative Soul Companies. What is Creative Soul? Our main goals are to inform, encourage, and assist Christian creative folks in ministry, no matter where they are in their journey. Thanks for reading! Find out more about us at http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com