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Your Creative Practice: Inspiration or Discipline?
Sometimes, I am drawn to drawing, welcomed to writing. It's as if I can't help it — I am being called to get that stuff out that's in me, or coming through me.
This feels like inspiration.
Other times, I'm facing creative expression like it's a must. It's my duty. I HAVE to do it because I made a pact with myself. Or else!
This feels like discipline.
The "D" word
There's a part of me that really doesn't like discipline. Like the cruel whip that drives the horse, or the stern policeman writing me a speeding ticket for going 5mph over the limit.
Discipline tickles my inner revolutionary — the one who has a hard time with authority figures...
No! I won't do it! You can't make me!
With discipline, I feel pushed. There's a boundary and I am told to color within the lines. And I only know the feel of discipline because the boundary pushes against something… me! And when I feel pushed, I push back. Seems like a waste of energy, huh? Two forces pushing when they could be going with the flow.
Inspiration
On the other hand, when I connect to a vision I have about who I am becoming, like an affirmation I have that says, "I am a prosperous artist," there's something I am stepping into willingly. Like a magnetic resonance that attracts my spirit. My curiosity is piqued. I'm walking on a staircase of sunshine, a magic carpet ride that's cheering me on…
"Let it out… whatever it is… Express!"
"If you build it, they will come…"
"There's a sale at Penney's…"
Okay, so sometimes the inspiration doesn't make sense when translated. And really it doesn't always come so directly in words for me. More often it's a gut feeling. An instinctual response to an energy stirring in my body, often around my belly or my heart.
A Disciple
A client of mine the other day mentioned that the root of discipline is disciple. After I told him to never speak out of turn again, I realized how brilliant and helpful an insight this was for me.
I've been a pacifist all my life and yet, I was always looking for an internal battle. I kept relating to discipline as a responsibility imposed by an unempathetic other -- outside and, as I recently realize, inside me as well. If I were a disciple of my creative practice, not a figure of some sort, how would that affect my feeling about stepping in on days when I did not feel particularly inspired?
I suppose it's like a yoga practice, a showering practice, or even an eating breakfast practice… some days it feels like this and other days it feels like that… and yet, everyday I engage in the practices. Not to gain a feeling from them, but as a measure, a barometer of what's true for me at that moment.
Thus the value of a ritual — as long as it's the same set of actions, whatever flavor I feel like that day can stand out, rather than attributing the experience of something unusual to my environment or circumstances. As a disciple of creativity, maybe the practice is in part to witness that there is a disciplinarian in me. Whether or not I'm engaged in the practice, he's there.
It is when I engage that I have a context in which to know that part of myself. To hear the familiar ways in which that part expresses so that I can accept his presence.
Acceptance
Acceptance -- yes, I'm working on that one.
I didn't used to understand that I do have distinct parts of myself, like an authority figure. For so long, I've been rebelling against all the authority figures seemingly outside of me.
Sheesh… it's humbling.
I've wanted to only be inspired, dancing on light, living in harmony with the animals,… and while that's awesome and beautiful, I'm human and feel a need to acknowledge the parts that don't always feel spiritual.
"Get back to work!"
Yeah, that one. Deep down, I know he's part of my spirit too or else he couldn't be here. Bless you, discipline — you impish lesson-giver!
Now You
So how do you relate to inspiration and discipline? Do they have a similar flavor to you or a different one? Do you use other words to more accurately describe your varied creative experience? Is it even varied?
In co-creation,
Matt Sloane
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Discipline/Inspiration
By Scott Sheperd (not verified) on Thursday, 07/15/2010 at 12:31 PMGreat article. Insightful and funny also. I would have read more but I had to go watch an NCIS marathon on TV. So could you sum it up for me again? (Just kidding) It really can be tough knowing when you're just being lazy or when it's good to let it go for awhile; when to be introspective and when you're driving yourself nuts.
If you're still having problems with the discipline issue (authoritarian stuff) just have me call you up once in a while and give you orders and then you can tell me to stick it in my ear. Then you'll have that out of your system and you can listen to the good internal discipline (I hope it's good.)
Great job.
You're hilarious -- thanks
By Matthew Sloane on Friday, 07/16/2010 at 9:49 AMYou're hilarious -- thanks Scott : )
In co-creation,
Matt Sloane
Yes, yes
By Dana Theus on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 7:35 PMYou've tapped into something real here. I find that the greatest challenge and joy come in letting the energy flow where it will on both matters of discipline and creative expression. The key it seems to both becoming a process of joy is usually in leaving them enough space to become. Space comes in many forms - a clean office, desk or worship or a few hours of mental rest. Deadlines often work too:)
Thanks for the thought provoking article, Matt.
Trusting the process....
By Lone (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 4:11 PMSo agree, the creative process is about the most humbling thing I've experienced, a strange mix of waiting, being ready, trying to empty, show up, get lazy, do a dance, take a walk, forget about it, feeling like crying, because of self-doubt and 'what the hell am I doing anyway'- kind of thoughts. And then, after such a hellish rollercoaster ride, you suddenly find yourself at the keyboard, writing, and it just flows out of you. And you forget the dramas that went before.
Some people seem to operate with structured disciplined ways of showing up and creating. But I can't seem to go about it that way... I seem to create a lot of space in my schedule for writing and inspiration to happen, then I try to go with the flow of my energy, while trying not to get distracted or beating myself up for potentially wasting time. When at wits ends I take a walk, dance, go to yoga, ... and the energy shifts and some clarity arrives.
hmmm.... I wish i was more disciplined. I am trying to finish a book, while also running my business, and so I wish I was more focused so I could manage it all, but it's almost like I can't multi-task or scatters my energy... like write 2 hours each morning. full-immersion works better for me, so at the moment, i do the work i absolutely have to (clients) and the rest of the time I focus on writing. not so do-able in the long run, but it seems necessary at the moment.
still experimenting with ways.... ideas welcome.
You just reminded me that
By Matt Sloane (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 4:17 PMYou just reminded me that when I am not creating, I tend to feel depressed. But it's not about making something, it's about expressing something for me.
After I create/express, I feel sort of high -- like I am proud to be me.
Lone, I wonder what's compelling you to write or allow the writing of the book... the intention may provide some insight as to why it's sometimes hard and sometimes just comes out.
Peace : )
Great question Matt. I am in
By Lone (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 6:34 PMGreat question Matt. I am in the midst of editing/rewriting and also creating a book proposal, so that is harder demanding more clarity focus and 'sales' language.... than the free writing where I go with ease, though the real craft of writing tends to happen in the editing. I suppose the intention behind the book itself has become a mix of desire to share a story, an experience, and some wisdom, and to actually complete a project I started and have spent enormous amounts of time on, and help give me a voice in the world as a writer/inspirator. hmm.....
Creativity would never see the light of day without discipline!
By Laurie Wallin (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 11:57 AMI totally go with the rest of you on this. I'm in the middle of re-visioning my life coaching and writing right now and I could get really caught up in the stuff of vision, dreams, direction-seeking (which are all totally necessary!) and see it all pass me by if I don't buckle down and do something about it. Discipline as a life of discipleship is one of our family's main principles and my four girls know that it's their main job to learn how to live well. Which is inspirational to think about... and needs a lot of discipline to achieve!
Thanks for the post!
Your comment reminded me of
By Matt Sloane (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 4:12 PMYour comment reminded me of this quote, Laurie...
"If you have built castles in the air your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them." ~ Henry David Thoreau
And thanks for a word I've never seen before -- "discipleship" : )
Discipline/ disciple
By Joy Mazzola (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 10:35 AMA few years ago, my writing teacher told me that the root of the word "discipline" is actually "disciple." To be disciplined in something is to be a devoted student, and to honor the practice as one would a wise teacher. That makes total sense to me but the word itself still gets my barbs up, just like you Matt. I often sit with that notion, though, and hope and trust that one day it will seep into my bones.
Your piece is so helpful to me at this moment in my life where I have a lot of relatively empty days with lots of time that COULD be put toward creative endeavors, but - not surprisingly - has not. It's just occurring to me in this moment (thanks to your words) that I probably set my life up like this partly as a giant middle finger to my internal authoritarian - "what are you going to make me do now, huh?" Not only am I not letting it "make me" work and spin my wheels, I might actually be rebelling against ANYTHING it might ask me to do. Hmmm ...
Wow, thank you for giving me some new questions to live into and for bringing forth such a juicy topic.
Much love!
Wow -- that image of the
By Matt Sloane (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 4:09 PMWow -- that image of the giant middle finger is easy to see and feel in me : )
And for myself, I hope to keep discerning between the voice that says it's time to create, either coming from a place of fear (ego) and the one coming from a place of love, giving, and exploration (spirit)...
Creativity requires discipline
By Joanne Tombrakos (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 8:04 AMI posted on this subject just yesterday!
http://onewomanseye.blogspot.com/2010/07/after-fireworks.html
I really do believe there is no true creativity without discipline. I recommend a wonderful book The War of Art which discusses this concept of the 'work' in creativity.
War of Art -- great title.
By Matt Sloane (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 4:04 PMWar of Art -- great title. Thanks for that recommendation Joanne!
Creativity and discipline -- cousins, friends, antagonists? TBD
Ditto
By Laurie Erdman on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 7:09 AMI hear on this one. This last weekend - where I had 4 days to myself to write and make art, I could do nothing. There was no inspiration. I tried to focus on the discipline aspect because there are deadlines I have to meet. But no such luck. Every pot looked awful and the words were mangled.
By Day 3, I finally caved in (accepted maybe?) that I was going to waste this golden opportunity to be creatively productive. Since I am no longer binge eating :) on such occasions, I straightened up my studio. The next day after a lazy morning watching the Tour de France and making a yummy lunch, I entered my newly cleaned studio. My first attempts flopped, but my next two attempts were pretty awesome. By that evening, I was feverishly writing an article that just hadn't been flowing for weeks.
Acceptance and being lazy (not something I normally do) were key to my break through. They allowed the inspiration to flow without expectation.
I have always been inspiration driven. I've known this for years with my cooking. I'm just realizing now that it applies to all creative endeavors. Next time I'm stuck, I will remember this last weekend and find something mindless to do so the muse can find a comfortable place to start giving her input.
Creatively struggling,
Laurie
Laurie Erdman
Extinguish Burnout - Ignite Your Life With More Energy, Passion and Purpose
Being Lazy
By Matt Sloane (not verified) on Wednesday, 07/07/2010 at 4:01 PMLove that, Laurie -- being lazy allowing for the inspiration to flow without expectation... when I hear "being lazy", I hear in myself, "good self-care" like honoring the need for downtime : )