Thank you for sharing Elise 🙏🏼 Thinking of Phil's Tools, "Forward Motion" and "Reversal of Desire" when I get stuck in the creative process. Also saving this quote, “But fear…is the basis of creativity. Anybody who cannot stand the impact of the unknown naturally is not capable of creating anything new, or of letting something new come up, something creative."
This one had particular resonance for me for sure. I also wonder if the Gen Z propensity to "crash out" (see the NYT article yesterday) is a good thing or a bad thing in this light. Either they're getting comfortable normalizing the kind of "falling apart" that precedes new inspiration and creativity or they're cheapening the idea and losing the true meaning.
Thank you so much for this, Elise. As a creative person, I'm often frustrated — frustrated that the results of my efforts never mirror my intentions, that I can't find the right words, that everything comes out in a jumble before it gets clearer. But the only thing more frustrating than creating in chaos is not creating at all. That, to me, is where the real pain lives. So I'll keep creating — despite the inevitable disappointments.
Thank you Elise for "creating" this beautiful synthesis of how we can continue moving forward with our gifts of creativity. The overwhelm is real; yet your words fill me with a new-found wellspring of energy and hope.
I love this! I wonder if it's just me, but creativity requires three things: allowing, trusting, and surrendering. It means allowing what needs to come in to come in, trusting that it will, and surrendering the need to control the outcome. Though they seem like passive actions, all three of these things are active processes. I think this is why most solutions to my problems come to me at 3 am, when my brain is no longer in overdrive.
I suffer from a type of creative disappointment not mentioned here, but I do wish it was discussed more. Often this concept of imposter syndrome, perfectionism or creative paralysis takes center stage but what I experience is something quite different: I think my work is great, but I don't think others agree with me on that. My process usually falls somewhere along the line of pride and satisfaction for having done it, pleasure in the final product, followed by deep disappointment with how it's received.
Thank you, Elise. This phrase - „After all, if you never finish making something it can’t be judged.“ Ouch.
Oh and also, thank you for not having that second book finished yet - I am still slowly working through (and savoring!) True and False Magic and The Price Women Pay to be Good. With your new Workbook with Courtney coming out in the Fall, (which I am so looking forward too!) - my unconscious is begging you to slow down so I can catch up a bit. Maybe that takes some pressure off of writing the next chapter. Have a lovely vacation.
Thank you for sharing Elise 🙏🏼 Thinking of Phil's Tools, "Forward Motion" and "Reversal of Desire" when I get stuck in the creative process. Also saving this quote, “But fear…is the basis of creativity. Anybody who cannot stand the impact of the unknown naturally is not capable of creating anything new, or of letting something new come up, something creative."
This one had particular resonance for me for sure. I also wonder if the Gen Z propensity to "crash out" (see the NYT article yesterday) is a good thing or a bad thing in this light. Either they're getting comfortable normalizing the kind of "falling apart" that precedes new inspiration and creativity or they're cheapening the idea and losing the true meaning.
That's a great question!
Thank you so much for this, Elise. As a creative person, I'm often frustrated — frustrated that the results of my efforts never mirror my intentions, that I can't find the right words, that everything comes out in a jumble before it gets clearer. But the only thing more frustrating than creating in chaos is not creating at all. That, to me, is where the real pain lives. So I'll keep creating — despite the inevitable disappointments.
100%
This is the exact thing I needed today, thank you.
this is beautiful
This all resonates deeply. Thank you for expressing it so well.
thank you. its always a great comfort to know others go through this process and push through back into creativity.
Thank you Elise for "creating" this beautiful synthesis of how we can continue moving forward with our gifts of creativity. The overwhelm is real; yet your words fill me with a new-found wellspring of energy and hope.
Thank you. I’m so grateful to have found your work.
love this. great reminder that the upside to chaos is creativity...we know it but it's a great way to navigate this time. xx
I love this! I wonder if it's just me, but creativity requires three things: allowing, trusting, and surrendering. It means allowing what needs to come in to come in, trusting that it will, and surrendering the need to control the outcome. Though they seem like passive actions, all three of these things are active processes. I think this is why most solutions to my problems come to me at 3 am, when my brain is no longer in overdrive.
Hello Elise,
Is the opposite to creativity possibly chaos or death?
All of my creative ideas and thoughts have been birthed through me.
I believe that we are all co-creators in the experience called being human.
So, would the opposite, the polarity that is necessary for us to transcend, be chaos?
And in chaos, a lot of change must occur. Things have to die. It is evolution.
Is it possible that evil is an old notion of our Christian lineage? I know it is true for me, since I was raised Catholic.
No surprise, I know, but I love this piece. Thank you for writing it. Enjoy vacation!!
I suffer from a type of creative disappointment not mentioned here, but I do wish it was discussed more. Often this concept of imposter syndrome, perfectionism or creative paralysis takes center stage but what I experience is something quite different: I think my work is great, but I don't think others agree with me on that. My process usually falls somewhere along the line of pride and satisfaction for having done it, pleasure in the final product, followed by deep disappointment with how it's received.
Thank you, Elise. This phrase - „After all, if you never finish making something it can’t be judged.“ Ouch.
Oh and also, thank you for not having that second book finished yet - I am still slowly working through (and savoring!) True and False Magic and The Price Women Pay to be Good. With your new Workbook with Courtney coming out in the Fall, (which I am so looking forward too!) - my unconscious is begging you to slow down so I can catch up a bit. Maybe that takes some pressure off of writing the next chapter. Have a lovely vacation.
I find something compelling and resonant in every single one of your posts. Thank you.