The Creative Act: A Way of Being

The universe is a powerful source of creativity, enabling humans to create works of art that often emerge in movements. To access this creative energy, we must create an open space free of mental clutter—one that allows our childlike qualities like curiosity, awe, and spontaneity to shine through.

The source of creativity is all around us. It's in everything we see, do, think, feel, imagine, forget, and leave unsaid. It's not something that comes from within us, but from an infinite supply that's always available. And when we're inspired by a new work of art, it can resonate with us on a deeper level.

To successfully solve creative problems, we must be able to move beyond the obvious and explore new horizons. This entails being open to expanding and contracting our awareness, as well as being receptive to the unseen world with our eyes either open or closed.

To rekindle our childlike perception, we need to let go of the need to understand and allow all the information to flow freely. We can access the power of the unseen world by believing and acting as if it's real. It's important to take notice of the moments that leave us breathless and seek out clues in the environment that others might not see.

To become artists, we must learn to observe and pay attention to the world around us. This mindful practice serves as a conduit to the Source, enabling us to harmoniously engage with the rhythms and motions of our environment.

To expand our perceptions, it is valuable to establish daily rituals that can help us connect with the world in new ways. We must remain receptive to change and embrace novel experiences since the world is always evolving and no two experiences are the same. Finally, you must learn to look inward too; sometimes, the best source of inspiration comes from within. By following your instincts and trusting the signals that the universe is sending you, you can create art that truly resonates with you and others.

Intention is more than a conscious purpose; it encompasses the alignment of every aspect of oneself, including conscious thought, unconscious beliefs, capabilities, commitment, and actions. It is the grand gesture of any creative work—an unseen, unmeasurable force that gives it magnetism and power.

To unleash our creativity, we need to view every project as an experiment. There is no right or wrong, only exploration and play. By freeing ourselves from the constraints of expected results, we can discover new possibilities and push ourselves to our limits. We also need to label our insecurities, acknowledge them, and practice gratitude to help us move forward.

Now, if you find yourself doubting your work, remember that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. In fact, it can even help you improve your work. However, doubting yourself can lead to a sense of hopelessness. That's why applying the Japanese pottery technique of kintsugi to ourselves—embracing our imperfections and treating them as unique beauty marks—can be beneficial. Distraction can also be a powerful tool for artists to access a different part of their brain, but it should be used in service of the work, not as a form of procrastination.

If you want to discover something completely new, learn something that no one has ever known before, or create something that has never been made before, you must learn to approach things with a beginner's mind. This means letting go of what you've learned from your past experiences and opening yourself up to learning new ones. This may sound challenging, but the journey can be worthwhile.

The creative process starts with collecting "seeds" of inspiration. It's like fishing, where you have to be actively aware and curious, always ready to receive inspiration when it strikes. While we can't control when inspiration comes, we can control our openness to it.

When collecting these "seeds" of information, it's important to not dismiss potential seeds of inspiration, assuming that they won't work or don't fit with our artistic identity. Sometimes, a "seed" can take us in a completely new and exciting direction we never would have considered otherwise. So, it's important to remain open to all possibilities when collecting those initial "seeds" of inspiration.

Exploring different combinations and possibilities is an important part of the creative process. Did you know that many inventions we use today were actually discovered by accident? That's why it's important to stay open to the unknown and be willing to follow the energy that comes from the work. And if you want to know whether an idea works, you must test it by asking “what if” questions and looking for different polarities.

To weigh your choices, you need to bring your ideas into the real world and see how they work. Let them grow in the direction they want to go, and let them evolve naturally. Don't be afraid to try out all the different options and see what form your work takes!

Creating art involves a delicate balance of experimentation and skill. You need to be willing to try new things and discover fresh concepts, while also building on a solid foundation of skills that you've already developed. It's important to recognize the potential of each project and to add your own unique flair to it.

Knowing when to focus on a single idea and when to juggle multiple projects is another key aspect of art creation. During the skill phase, it's important to break down and refine the project, deciding which details and directions to keep and which to discard. Knowing when to be involved in all aspects of the work and when to delegate is also crucial.

Developing the habit of completing one's work is an incredibly valuable skill for artists. The finishing touches and fine-tuning necessary for each project can vary widely, from framing a painting to color correcting a film, tweaking a song's mix, or giving a manuscript one last read-through.

However, it's not always easy to complete your work. The fear of commitment and perfectionism can hold you back, making it challenging to put the finishing touches on your art. You may find yourself delaying completion with excuses or making minor, inconsequential changes instead of truly finishing. You may even worry about what others will think of your work.

But here's the thing - when creating art, you should always put your audience last. Completing your work is what boosts your confidence and helps you grow as an artist.

The key to finishing your work is adopting an abundant mindset. Trust that new ideas will always come to you, and release your current projects with the faith that more will follow. Living with a scarcity mindset stifles your creativity and hinders your growth. By choosing to live in abundance, you'll have the confidence to complete your work and share it with the world.

The world of art is full of mysteries, and the stories we tell about it are nothing more than our own interpretations. As artists, it's common for us to look up to our heroes for inspiration, but it's important to keep in mind that we can never truly know the full story behind a beloved work unless we were there to witness its creation ourselves.

Instead of trying to compete with others, we should focus on pushing ourselves to explore new territory and delve deeper into the unexpected. After all, the most interesting art often comes from taking risks and trying new things.

When you find yourself doubting your artwork, remember that even the most legendary figures in art and history had their own vulnerabilities and flaws, just like the rest of us. Every work of art is like a unique poem, with its own meaning and message that we can never fully comprehend. It's important to know that there are forces at play beyond our understanding, and that's okay. Sometimes it's the mystery and the unknown that makes art so powerful and captivating.

Adaptation is an essential part of life and growth. It is a process that involves learning and developing new skills rather than just memorizing facts and figures.

When we practice a new skill, like playing a musical piece, we may experience moments of ease and difficulty before finally achieving a natural flow. This is because our body needs time to absorb the practice and develop the necessary level of strength.

However, constant practice alone is not sufficient to achieve mastery. We must also take regular breaks and allow our bodies to rest and recover. Moreover, we must also be open to the idea that adaptation is a natural process that allows us to grow and evolve. By embracing the adaptation process, we can use our inherent abilities to survive and thrive in a changing world.

Collaboration is often undervalued as a means to create something new. Instead of viewing it as a competition to push one's own ideas, collaboration should be seen as an opportunity to gain a fresh perspective.

Often, the best results come when everyone is open-minded and not too attached to their own strategies. Sure, there may be some tension in a collaboration, but that's okay - it can even be helpful! The key to success is communication, and the group dynamic is just as important as the individual skills.

In terms of creating art, most artists are obsessed with being sincere and expressing their truth through it. However, sincerity is a difficult quality to achieve, and it shouldn't necessarily be the main goal. Creativity is a journey of discovery—a process of unearthing hidden materials within yourself. If the art allows the audience to understand how the artist sees the world, that's what matters, even if the information is not completely accurate. In order to achieve unity and balance, the editor must put their egos aside and look beyond the artist's emotional attachments.