Sometimes the truth can be UGLY…that’s why we don’t confront it.
Julia Cameron is the author of an interesting book some of you may be familiar with called “The Artist’s Way”. Now, I don’t necessarily agree with everything in the book, but what I do like about it is that it is filled with hands-on exercises that allow the artist to confront real issues and hindrances to your creativity.
I want to challenge you to do a version of one of those exercises. It is designed for you to pause for a moment in your busy, hectic day and really confront hindrances to your creativity. It’s called…
THE AWFUL TRUTH:
Answer the Following Questions:
(This exercise works best when you write down the answers.)
1. Tell the truth. What habit do you have that gets in the way of your creativity?
2. Tell the truth. What do you think might be a problem? More than likely, it is (that is, if you’re telling THE TRUTH.)
3. Tell the truth. What do you plan to do about the habit or problem that you identified? Nothing? Think about it later? TELL the TRUTH.
Now here’s an example:
1. Tell the truth. What habit do you have that gets in the way of your creativity?
“Not having enough time in the day.”
2. Tell the truth. What do you think might be a problem? More than likely, it is (that is, if you’re telling THE TRUTH.)
“Time that I spend on the internet (or watching TV) could be time used to create something.”
3. Tell the truth. What do you plan to do about the habit or problem that you identified? Nothing? Think about it later? TELL the TRUTH.
“Give myself an internet ‘curfew’ so I can replace that time with doing something creative.”
Share your thoughts or even your answers here in the Comments section:
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very true
Hi Denise-
I think the answer especially to #3 and the struggle that you’ve had for years is to begin by identifying SPECIFIC habits or behaviors that get in the way of your creativity and addressing each accordingly (and of course, you do not need to identify them here for the world to see), but identifying them specifically leads to specific, practical solutions.
Example:
ONE of the SEVERAL things that used to hinder my creativity was the failure to practice my drawing skills.
Knowing this, 2 practical steps I realized worked for me were:
1) A simple step of buying a fresh sketchbook. For me, a fresh sketchbook gets filled up. No sketchbook, no sketches.
2)Buying an art magazine and viewing other’s work. This always challenges me and pushes me to get off my butt and DRAW!
If I limited my insight to “I get in my own way.” without saying fully “I get in my own way by not having a fresh skecthbook in the house”, I would never overcome the habit.
1. Tell the truth. What habit do you have that gets in the way of your creativity?
Where does one start? I guess I can sum it all up as “myself”. I know this is not a habit, but the “habit” is the ritual of allowing myself to get in my way. The habit of falling into the same weaknesses, the same unhealthy behaviors, and all the self defeating destructive tendencies I have developed over the years.
2. Tell the truth. What do you think might be a problem? More than likely, it is (that is, if you’re telling THE TRUTH.)
I dont really know ….. being human , perhaps?
3. Tell the truth. What do you plan to do about the habit or problem that you identified? Nothing? Think about it later? TELL the TRUTH.
I have been struggling with the answer to this question for years. I continually seek GOD’s wisdom and guidance. Granted, I sometimes rebel like the child I am and quite often do the very opposite of what I should do. I often do not know why I do such things. I certainly understand the words of one of the Apostles (I think Paul but I am not sure), whom said – I do the things I do not want to do and do not do the things I ought. He was also baffled as to why he did such things. I can definitely relate to his predicament.
The only way I can break my “habit(s)” is to surrender to GOD moment by moment, to allow Him to mold me into the person He planned for me to be, and to continually forgive myself as He forgives me so I can become something bigger and better than myself in order to glorify Him in all I do.
Now that I said all this, I think that this exercise may have been meant to be more focused on certain pieces or parts of ourselves in order to tackle them individually. Honestly, I have tried tackling my “habits” individually and I don’t get anywhere. I have realized the only answer is allowing GOD to heal me and form me as He wishes. I just need to get out of His way, allow Him, and listen to Him. What I need to do is put Him first and continue to seek His way in all things. He promises that if we do this, all other things will fall into place.
1. bad habit: procrastination (i.e. distraction)
2. wastes time (looking at it, i think the first 2 questions are more or less the same, aren’t they? should the question be “why do you think that is a problem?”)
3. schedule time better
Great feedback, ALFG Family!
It seems like the overall challenge that we all have (including Your’s Truly)is fitting creative moments into a time-starved day or week.
Tony-
1. What habit do you have that gets in the way of your creativity?
Spending too much time thinking about non creative things, such as budgets, schedules, and to do lists.
2. What do you think might be a problem? More than likely, it is (that is, if you’re telling THE TRUTH.)
Not scheduling time to be creative and not scheduling time to just enjoy creative things. I can spend too much time looking at creativity from a ministry or business stand point and miss the simple beauty of what it is.
3. What do you plan to do about the habit or problem that you identified?
Follow the advice I give others: Pray more, worry less, and rest. I also plan to schedule creative zones, where I am either creating or enjoying something created.
I have worked very hard at time management
My biggest problem is that I don’t allow enough time for things like the business side.
Invoices / tax/ budgeting.
This eventually slows me down hugely.
Catching up on invoices, hampered by the lack of money flow.
Fixing the tax up.
So what I need is the balance to do all that is required not just the art.
Thanks for the questions they made me think!
Jo
1. What habit do you have that gets in the way of your creativity?
Procrastination
2. What do you think might be a problem?
Assuming I know what’s the best way to spend time
3. What do you plan to do about the habit or problem that you identified?
Embrace obedience over sacrifice by faith in Christ
If Christ can save me from a deserved condemnation…I gotta give Him credit to deal with habitual procrastination, also.
Believe it or not, I’m not what I use to be, but I still have a distance to go until Christ reigns supreme over my time…so I endure.
first thought: “not having enough time in the day” isn’t a habit. watching 3 hours of tv per day is.
just sayin’…