Creating is self-expression in its rawest form.
We take already expressed things from the world, mix and mash them up with our ideas, and end up with a never before expressed thing that we get to share.
Which is why, the ultimate win from a creation is a renewed desire to create.
Because self-expression isn’t something that’s ever done—it’s as living and as breathing as we are. And the more we create—the more we express ourselves—the better we get to know ourselves.
It’s also our creations that act as the very foundation of our legacies—what better way to be remembered than by referencing what we uniquely expressed?
With that in mind, here are some gentle reminders for you to keep in your back pocket as you continue to create:
- Treat “success” cautiously—it leads to contentment and distractions.
- Treat “failure” cautiously—it leads to frustration and disappointment.
- Both success and failure can improve the creating process, but they often lead us astray.
- With each experience, the ultimate goal should be to quickly discard what isn’t useful, carefully apply what is, and return to the work humbly and with a deeper understanding (of ourselves and our work) than before.
- If the byproduct of what you’re creating is leading you further and further from creating—something is probably wrong.
Remember, the ultimate loss from a creation is an extinguished desire to create.