Category: Creating Art

When there’s a lot going on and a lot to do, people can busy themselves in the distractions—just like they’re used to doing in their everyday private lives with screens, internet, and AI.

When there’s not a lot going on and nothing to do, most modern day people feel immediately a lack… like there’s something missing… and all of the usual fast-paced, quick dopamine-hitting energy pools and can feel pent up in a way that can sometimes feel like anxiety or irritability. Like: GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO.

But what many of us don’t realize is that what we don’t give to distractions… doesn’t hurt our inner self… but is actually what we get to keep for ourselves. And that feeling of pent up energy? Is the perfect pool to channel and pull from for imagination, creativity, inner work, connection building, personal growth activities, and so on.

I’ve noticed this in myself as of late: the anxiety that builds the longer I avoid looking at my phone: particularly as I sit down to write each afternoon. “I’m missing something.” “I need to check on this or that.” “I wonder if he/she replied yet.” …And sometimes I cave. But sometimes I stay in that feeling of “anxiety” long enough to realize, it’s just a well of energy waiting to be tapped into and channelled into the very tasks that add depth and meaning to my life.

…And so it is for you.

The modern day brain has been programmed (quite literally) to desperately avoid boredom.

I overheard a child say to their parent the other day, “Mom, I’m so bored” in a play area that had books, puzzles, coloring sheets, crayons, colored pencils, magna-tiles, blocks, and so on.

…And what was the child hoping they could get access to to cure their boredom? …That’s right—their parents’ phone.

And as sad as that might sound… what you should consider is whether or not you and your loved ones are any better off.

What do you do when you crash on the couch after a long day? Or when you’re stuck in line at a restaurant? Or when you’re waiting for your child to finish their club/ class/ activity?

Because I’ll tell you what the majority of parents do while they’re waiting for their son or daughter to finish martial arts class… as soon as even an inkling of boredom occurs… they open up their phone.

This is not meant to be a criticism. It’s simply meant to be an inner work prompt. What is your relationship with boredom? Do you and boredom ever sit with each other for any amount of time? Or do you avoid boredom like the plague? When’s the last time you did what you encourage your kids to do (if you have any) and use your imagination to build, draw, or create minus the screens?

I’ll tell you what… there’s a magic in boredom that no screen game can touch.

…Just look at how a bored child can turn three blocks into entire worlds that are travelled and explored for hours and hours and hours at a time.

Think of some of your favorite things you’ve ever created in life—the things people will remember you by.

How much would someone have to pay you to remove that creation from ever existing in your life?

…The thing is: many of us are doing this daily. And for A LOT less than we think.

Think about how many creations have been “taken away” because of extra work or from bringing work home or from being too exhausted to create after work…

Think, too, about how long some of those favorite creations took you to make? …And how much you get paid per hour in your job/career? …And if that creation is worth that price?

For many of us… the answer would be an unwavering, “No.”

And yet… many of us continue to work for that hourly rate at the expense of the things we might’ve been so proud to have created.

This isn’t a call to quit your job. It’s a call to renew your commitment towards creation—in the time you can afford to budget… just like you do so vigilantly for your job.

Nobody is going to make the time for you—especially not your boss.

But if you can be your own boss and learn how to make the time for yourself again… what you might end up with is something far more valuable than anything your boss ever gives you in a check.

Traveling with a bunch of luggage is taxing.

Living with a bunch of baggage is taxing.

Creation… it seems to me…

Is a process through which the items in your metaphorical bags are unpacked… alchemized into some expressive medium… and left there once finished.

As writing an idea frees your mind from holding it any longer… creating frees your metaphorical bags from having to carry them any longer.

…For lighter, further, freer life travel.

You can assemble a car, but you can’t assemble a flower.

A flower can only be grown.

And when you rush the creative process, you start to assemble instead of grow.

Any internet skimmer, quick-fixer side-hustler, AI app can assemble.

…But what we need now more than ever are people who can grow.

I take my writing streak seriously.

And I can remember many nights when I would get home late, after an exhausting day, have nothing drafted, and be faced with the pain-staking decision of whether I should try to force a creation or rest.

…I can even remember nights when I would arrive to my computer at 2am, barely able to open my laptop, hunched so close to the screen that the blue light might as well have been injected right into my retinas, hazily and hastily trying to replay and recreate a moment or story from the day, one that I could squeeze a drop of insight from, from a frame of mind where all that seemed to be happening was an HD recording of the misery and toughness that I kept choosing to sit in moment after moment… after moment.

…And yet.

In those moments when I did see my way through… I never felt regret for what was created.

See there’s something whimsical and divine about creating in those spaces in between the awake and the asleep state.

…Where thoughts are free to merge together while floating in a dream-like haze.

…Where you’re too tired to care about rules… about perfection… about opinions.

…Where identity and brand melts away and pure life source and collective unconscious remains.

There’s no question that creating while well rested, organized, and motivated is effective.

And there’s no doubt that in many cases, rest will be the better decision made.

…But don’t underestimate the power and potential of creating while tired and near misery.