A month ago I took a course on LinkedIn Learning about Productive Creativity. It was very informative on how to get my creative flow going more often and for longer periods of time. The interesting thing was that to be creative consistently, you needed to commit to being creative every day for periods of time. It seemed counterintuitive to me! Doesn’t creativity just come to you in sudden bursts of inspiration?
Well yes, and no.
You see, you have to be open for the opportunity. In order to be a receptacle open to receive creativity or inspiration, you have to allow time and energy for it. So I crafted a schedule for myself for daily writing.
Next the presenter instructed me to also include set mental breaks. Almost like purposeful distractions. This was a way to allow me the time to veg, but not during my sacred creative writing time. (Kind of like having Kiddush after Davening. It ensures a time and place that is socially acceptable and encouraged to schmooze with people!) Okay I can do this. So I included set breaks in my schedule.
But what would I do during those breaks?
They recommended that I do a different craft, other than creative writing. I like to cook, paint and play piano. So I alternate between making dinner, pictures and music.
During the Pandemic I had started on a canvas of Kever Rachel. It is based off of a painting that hangs in my aunt and uncle’s home in Israel that I always loved. Well, let’s just say I got the building done, although it still needs work, and then I got tired. I put it aside and hadn’t picked it up in months until two weeks ago. I had wanted to paint as one of my mindful distractions, but I couldn’t find my easel and then nothing was set up. It just took too long to get it together. Well, that Sunday, I finally went out and bought a new easel and our daughter graciously assembled it for me.
On Wednesday I was in desperate need of a mental recharge. I am not sure why, but I felt fried and needed more distraction time than writing time. Painting was calling me. I got to work and painted for an hour or so. It was thrilling. I made mistakes, I reworked, I started again, I even looked up a YouTube video on painting skies! It was great!
And the result? Well, I have to say, I’m pretty happy with my creation. You can see it for yourself below:) I finally felt satisfied with a day’s work and I left it to dry.
The amazing thing was, I then settled right back into writing! I wrote a Parsha blog for Times of Israel and a draft of the next chapter in my book! This really works!
When the kids came home from school that afternoon, they each immediately noticed the painting sitting on the easel, as it had tremendous amounts of color surrounding the brown building that had been sitting solitary on the canvas just that morning and for so many months!
Our son said it looked nice and wanted to know if it was finished yet. I said I wasn’t sure. Then he asked why there wasn’t a sun in the painting?
Interesting question!
Well actually I had thought about that very idea earlier in the day. Should I paint the sun? Aside from the Halachic question of being allowed to paint the sun, I decided not to for the following reason.
In life, outside, we don’t actually see the sun like the fiery ball that it is. Only occasionally at sunset or sunrise if we are privileged. But mostly we can’t even look at the sun, as it would hurt and even damage our eyes.
Yet, here is the interesting thing about the sun; it shines down on us all of the time, whether we see and feel it or not. It is there, making a difference for us, every day.
Inspiration is kind of like the sun in our lives. It influences us all the time. Sometimes we are cognizant and other times we are not. Like water washing over the sand one wave at a time making an impact slowly until we see a dent in the shore line. Like the sun warming the earth, nourishing plants, animals and people to strengthen, grow and develop. Some days we see and feel it more than others, and sometimes it is so bright it is glaring.
Inspiration is one of Hashem’s greatest gifts to mankind.
But in order for inspiration to hit, we need to be open for it to be received. Otherwise it will be just a fleeting moment that fades away, lost forever.
Mindful Inspiration. Looking to be inspired every day. Keep your eyes open, it can be found everywhere you look.
