Sharing Your Work is an Act of Generosity

Managing the push and pull of creative work is something I think about all the time. As much as possible, I practice surrendering to the energy of the piece and joyfulness in the details.

Enjoy Your Process

Much like knitting a sweater one stitch at a time, I generate excitement for seeing the whole of the work put into practice. I imagine how it will all look and feel once complete.

And, maybe most importantly, I enjoy the moment-to-moment practice of the craft. If it's knitting, then it's all about focusing on each stitch, the texture of the yarn, the shifting colours, and following the guidance of the pattern row-by-row.

If it’s writing, then I notice the glide of the pen on paper, the shaping of the words, the joy of typing, the expression and re-expression of the ideas, the sculpture of the words and paragraphs, putting form to the formless.

If I enjoy each component of the process, or learn to bring joy to it, then it all becomes an expression of joy. Slowing down and backtracking, fixing errors, doing revisions, that all gives me more time with the process I enjoy.

If I make a mistake in writing, it gives me more time with my pens and laptop. If I make a mistake in knitting, it gives me more time with the yarn and needles. I can go slowly and reverse, because I’ve learned to view those rewinding moments as part of the process, not an obstacle to the process.

Release when Ripe

When I focus on honouring the work, rather than the outer world reaction to the work, it all becomes so much easier.

I try to spend zero time thinking about the critic when I create.

If I’m knitting something for someone else and I have a momentary thought that they may not like it, that can derail my whole progress. I might just stop entirely based on a flash of a thought of criticism.

So, I use meditation often to create a space of clarity. Meditation helps me focus on the current moment and the step I’m on rather than on an unknown result beyond my control.

What if people don’t like it?

Oh well, I guess that’s their business. It’s okay for others to have their own ideas and preferences. If I enjoy the making of the work, then it has served its purpose.

I feel that creative works are like wild birds. They belong to themselves. They have their own life and energy. And when we release them, they fly where they need to go. They connect with the people who need them, when that person needs them, and not a moment before.

My creation cycle may not match the need cycle. When I’m inspired to work on certain projects, may not be when others are ready for them. That doesn’t mean the work is bad; it just might be offset by timing.

And if some of the work doesn’t reach or resonate with people at all, I don’t let it stop me from creating. Because who knows!

I’m inspired by stories of authors who submit manuscripts that get rejected, repeatedly, only then to go on and be best sellers. I love hearing about how long it may take for people to get noticed at all. Of musicians who have a whole catalogue of work going back decades before I ‘find’ them on my playlist.

When I hear that, I’m always so glad they didn’t give up.

Don’t give up. (I’m talking to you)

Keep going.

You never know who is going to need your words, your voice, your dance.

It might be me!

Tomorrow, let’s hang out!

The Online Creative Retreat is happening October 30th at 7 PM MT.
We’ll meditate and free-write, and I’ll cheer you on!

meeting details below