10 Meditations for Creative Professionals
Don’t let routine consume your passion
Sometimes, in our day-to-day life, we feel that something is not quite right. We find it hard to be as productive as we would like to be, get irritated very easily, and feel we cannot handle all our responsibilities and commitments. Then, insecurities arise: “I’m a fraud,” “I’ll never be as good as others,” “I’m too old/young to do this,” “I’d better get an easier job.”
Well, let me tell you, there’s nothing wrong with feeling that way. Everyone feels that from time to time, and it is called “burnout.” That is because our routines are crushing our creativity, which is what makes us love our careers in the first place.
This article features meditations from Rod Judkins’ “The Art of Creative Thinking”.
1. Be a beginner, forever
Being a beginner means always having a fresh perspective towards your work. Forget how things “should” be done. Forget what is “right” or “wrong.” Avoid being an expert. Experts constantly refer to past experiences, repeating themselves over and over. Instead, be a beginner. Take some time to do something that piques your curiosity, even if it’s not “supposed” to be “your thing”. Maybe you’ll come across an alternative point of view.
2. Don’t be someone else
Think and act for yourself. You need to realize that you are a unique person with unique experiences. Try to make the most of them. You will never be original pretending to be someone else. Self-knowledge will help you learn to embrace your strengths and shadows, and understand that you have something special to offer.
3. Feel inadequate
If you think you are not as talented as others, use this feeling as a driving force to be better and prove that you are perfectly capable. The feeling of inadequacy doesn’t necessarily mean that you are not good at what you do, but shows that you have high standards. Even the most creative and successful people second-guess themselves and their work, but this doesn’t stop them. It drives them to try their best.
4. If you can’t be really good, be really bad
Doing something that others might consider “bad” or “weird” may be just what you need. Take it as a way to show the world that you don’t care what others think. Don’t waste your time seeking approval. Stick to your passion. Too much self-criticism can prevent you from doing things, so try to keep moving forward, and forgive yourself quickly if something goes wrong in the process.
5. Be mature enough to be childish
Keep the playful attitude of a child. Your work is too important to be so serious about it. Being playful unleashes our creative self. When we feel we are in a safe environment, we are free to experiment and fail, letting our creativity thrive. This playful attitude not only helps us at work, but also keeps us emotionally and mentally healthy.
6. Be curious about curiosity
Always be curious to constantly gain new perspectives. Curiosity pushes us to keep questioning reality and searching for the truth behind things. Demystify what you don’t know, free yourself from all prejudices and learn something new every day.
7. Don’t experiment, be an experiment
Creative thinkers allow themselves to experiment, even if the results are a complete disaster. If you have an idea that seems too ridiculous or even outrageous, go ahead with it! Worst case scenario, it will teach you something new. An experimental approach can lead to an innovative and unique solution to problems that seem impossible to solve logically.
8. Aspire to have no goals
Goals are always a burden, something to be concerned about. This prevents your imagination from finding other possibilities. Commit yourself to the process rather than to milestones. We get to enjoy ourselves when we create something we know is worthwhile. Creative people devote their time and energy to building something of great importance, not to meeting a deadline.
9. Pause for thoughtlessness
Put your mind away from emails, texts, meetings and any kind of screen time. Your inner creative genius won’t be able to show up if you are constantly distracted and craving for the next app notification. Allow yourself to find the “creative spark” by doing nothing from time to time, switching off the reactive state of constant stimulation that you are used to. You will be surprised with how things come to you when you are in silence. Ideas and solutions are deep inside us. We just have to let them come to the surface.
10. Achieve the perfect work-life balance
If you love what you do, working should not be something that drains your energy on an emotional level. Creative people don’t think in terms of work and life as opposites, but they make their work a lifestyle. This does not imply, by any means, that you should never take a rest from work. Eating well, exercising from time to time and getting enough sleep are basic needs. Take time to take care of yourself too!
Thanks for reading. I hope this was helpful!
