For those who know me through my creativity workshops, you may remember I talk a lot about the importance of finding ways to be creative every day.
It’s one thing to hope for fate to intervene to change or break us out of routine toward success.
It’s entirely another to commit to something – every day – so that when the spark of inspiration arrives, you’re ready to seize the opportunity to create.
As the old phrase goes: Chance favours the prepared mind.
For me, that’s playing the piano.
Growing up in a house filled with music – no surprise – I started on the piano when I was 5.
It was drilled into me to practice an hour every day. (Piano lessons were expensive!)
It worked. It’s a habit I’ve continued for almost 60 years. I briefly considered a career in music at university. But, I also knew the intense dedication required might also make me despise playing the piano. That was something I couldn’t imagine. I changed my path to communications, and here I am today.
But that’s routine! someone once said in a workshop.
Yes, every day makes it routine. (That’s not necessarily a bad thing with creativity.)
It’s also spiritual. (I always feel better after playing.)
It’s also ‘practice makes perfect.’ There’s something incredibly addictive about achieving something you’re proud of.
And yes, it’s fantastic exercise, not just for my arthritic fingers. If you’ve ever played something extremely difficult – if not fast – you know it’s aerobic exercise as well. (See below.)
The Little Gift That Changed My Creative Life
One of the most profound gifts I’ve ever received came from my first piano teacher Deva Long.
Poor woman. She endured years of weekly lessons where I refused her torture to play a piece of music exactly the same way Every. Single. Time.
(How boring! Another reason I would have been a horrible classical musician.)
I don’t know exactly when, but I remember she once said: “Ok, make it better.”
Oof, what a challenge!
Little did she realise – or did she? – it didn’t just teach me to improvise, it taught me flexibility, perseverance and achievement.
She even gave me a little staved book as encouragement … which of course I still have. See evidence (right).
Without ever saying the word aloud, she started me on a lifelong and happy pursuit to be creative every day.
Start Today
As I typically do, I talk too much. Here’s my point.
Don’t wait for the opportunity to fall into your lap.
Go be creative. Every day.
Nearly every single artist I’ve read about or met in person does the same thing. They try. Every single day.
Give it a go, even when you don’t feel like. Even if it feels like work … because it is.
It’s hard. It’s frustrating. Some days you’ll be your own worst enemy. (“Those who overcome themselves are strong” to paraphrase Lao Tzu.)
Some days you’ll want to throw it all out. (Not so easy with a piano, but you get my point.)
Take a breath. Calm down. Walk around the block. Have a cup of tea.
And start again.
Personally, when I come back, I tell myself to stop trying to PRODUCE. Just play.
Experiment. Pretend. Stop being an adult for a moment and let go of of your expectations. Be silly.
The next thing I know, I’m off and running again, more often than not, without realising it.
It’s what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called flow. And yes, he’s right: it is the secret to happiness.
Finally, if you can’t do it for yourself, encourage others. Remember to help good people be better.
To close, another favourite phrase. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
How do you be creative every day?
Please add your thoughts and comments below.
Here’s my YouTube channel with some old videos of me, especially some older ones of me with a baby beard.
As for an aerobic exercise, you should try En Route Opus 9, by Selim Palmgren.
No comment yet, add your voice below!