| This article draws a very important distinction for the | | | | every day. For me it was a form of prayer and a |
| artistic endeavor. Why is it important to distinguish | | | | joyful and easy extension of my poetry. For many |
| between a creative process orientation and a | | | | years I mostly sang for myself, nature, and close |
| creative product orientation? A large part of the | | | | friends. The times that I did share with larger groups, |
| reason has to do with pressure. There is a lot of | | | | I got a lot of encouraging feedback and struggled |
| pressure involved in putting out a finished product to | | | | not to let my head swell from the compliments. Part |
| the world, and the associated fears have squelched | | | | of me insisted that I keep this gift a pure prayer, |
| many a worthwhile project. | | | | while another part wanted to share the gift, and the |
| So let's start by looking at creative process on it's | | | | kid in me still liked the idea of becoming a rock star. |
| own merits, entirely separate from proving, selling, | | | | Finally I decided that I really did want to record a CD. |
| and other aspects of the product marketplace. | | | | Unfortunately, that inspiration turned to fears and |
| CREATIVE PROCESS | | | | projections and a bunch of subtle self-sabotaging. |
| Is an open ended, messy, experimental exploration. | | | | After years of this, I realized that I wasn't singing |
| It is about playing with your materials, both internal | | | | any more for devotion's sake and that I had gotten |
| and external and seeing where they take you. It is | | | | too much in my own way and I threw my hands up |
| not trying to prove anything, and thus is innocent, like | | | | and stopped singing and playing the guitar for many |
| a child's scribbles and mudpies. | | | | years. I let a part of myself push me towards a |
| You don't have to be a professional, you don't even | | | | product, and in that lost a precious gift in my life. |
| need to be "good" at it in order to enjoy creative | | | | I still haven't fully reclaimed my singing, and that is |
| process. You dance around your bedroom to your | | | | why I emphasize caution and clear motivation when |
| favorite music, you find yourself dabbling in poetry | | | | moving toward a product. |
| writing, or suddenly want to try painting. This is for | | | | TIPS for Transitioning: |
| YOU, and so in order to keep your explorations in | | | | 1.) Make sure you feel that the time is ripe and it is a |
| the sphere of innocence and safety, I recommend | | | | natural internally driven decision |
| that you (at least at the beginning) not share with | | | | 2.) Do some journaling and give a forum for all the |
| others. As soon as the idea of showing others our | | | | different voices in you and their opinions on this |
| work comes in, it changes the dynamic, so just let | | | | decision. Don't ignore the critical voices, just get their |
| this process be about you and for you. | | | | messages down on paper. Often these voices have |
| Within this Process based container, you can explore | | | | a really good piece of advice, though it may be |
| all your curiosities, attractions, and whims of creative | | | | hidden under a discouraging sound bite. Once you |
| outlets and both have a lot of fun, and get to know | | | | have all the sound bites down on paper you can look |
| yourself much better. You may also stumble across | | | | at them and see where potential conflicts may arise. |
| therapeutic methods that help you deal with difficult | | | | Exploring polarized or conflicting voices in theater or |
| emotional states. For example, I did a regular personal | | | | on the page can be a highly effective way to resolve |
| "dance lab" for a few months one Winter, and | | | | them and thus prevent them from playing out in a |
| whenever intense or angry energy would come up, I | | | | bigger way in your life. |
| would put a big red veil over myself and put on a | | | | 3.) Keep a commitment to some agenda free |
| specific music track and have a spazz out dance. | | | | process time. Allow yourself to doodle and free write |
| When I would get either too vain or too shy, I would | | | | and sing nonsense songs even if you are in a serious |
| dance with masks to help me get out of myself. I | | | | process of writing a book, recording an album, etc... |
| didn't read these ideas in an Expressive Arts Therapy | | | | CREATIVE PRODUCT |
| Book (though my bookshelf is full of them and I do | | | | During process we are always trying to keep the |
| recommend them), I just stumbled upon what | | | | critic and the editor at bay, but now is the time to |
| worked for me while giving space to my process. | | | | summon the editor onto the scene. You will need to |
| Some BENEFITS of CREATIVE PROCESS include:o | | | | feel strong enough in your offering to hear others |
| Deepened Self-Insight- gaining access to wise, | | | | critique and take it into account. This is the time |
| resourceful aspects of yourself and better | | | | when you really open yourself to feedback and take |
| understanding your multi-faceted beingo Easing | | | | others perspectives into consideration, as you are |
| Suffering- Finding and making creative tools to move | | | | now creating for more than yourself- you are |
| through difficult and painful timeso Having fun with | | | | creating for an audience, for the world. |
| materials and forms without any pressure to make a | | | | The trick is to stay connected to your authentic |
| product or moneyo Stumbling upon a favorite outlet | | | | inspiration and motivation and also polish your works |
| or medium that will become a life-long love affairo A | | | | with the world in mind. |
| great excuse for enriching, self-nurturing time for | | | | At any time that you get too spun out on external |
| yourself | | | | orientation and fears, give yourself permission to dip |
| * You are Hereby Granted Full Permission to be | | | | back into process for process's sake and find your |
| Messy, Explore, and Create within a realm of Process | | | | well of inspiration there. |
| for as long as you want. | | | | Avoid the temptation to add a time pressure and try |
| TRANSITIONING INTO CREATIVE PRODUCT | | | | to push your product out too fast. Give it time to |
| What do I mean by creative product? Some | | | | ripen and develop, as a mother does a baby in her |
| examples include: recording an album, publishing a | | | | womb. This is not a doo dad from an assembly line, |
| book, making a show, a play, choreographing a | | | | but a creative extension of your essence, extended |
| dance, designing a clothing line, and in any media, | | | | as a gift to the world. Try not to think too much |
| creating something for the purpose of being seen or | | | | about the monetary aspects just yet and focus |
| purchased by others. | | | | instead on doing the best job you can. |
| There may come a time when your organic creative | | | | Some blessed days you will just spill forth content |
| process matures into a genuine desire to create | | | | and progress gracefully and swiftly. Many days you |
| something to share with others. It is only natural for | | | | will want to procrastinate and distract yourself and |
| a cultivated garden to bear fruits. But we must be | | | | dig your heals in the dirt. You will need to find your |
| careful as we transition our orientation into product, | | | | own balance between allowance and self-discipline. |
| because many issues can come up such as: people's | | | | Do your best to enjoy the process. Make it a labor |
| opinions and expectations influencing our work, ego | | | | of love. |
| needs to be seen, loved, validated, etc..., | | | | Doing what you love for all the right reasons will help |
| Self-sabotage in many forms, critical voices (inside | | | | you to love yourself. Creating from selflessness and |
| & out) squashing the innocence and joy out of | | | | self- love will steer you from many a pitfall and |
| it. | | | | greatly enhance the chance that your creation will be |
| A personal story. | | | | of true value and benefit and be loved by others. |
| I used to write a lot of songs and sing pretty much | | | | |