Let Go to Grow
Time is not infinite. This shouldn’t be news to me, but I was getting sucked into thinking I should be able to do it all in the 24 hours given to me each day. Do it all PLUS sleep, eat, take care of personal needs, work my day job, be available to my family….. on and on and on. I was spinning and not really getting anything accomplished.
My creativity was suffering. I was struggling to feel creative as I was busting through my to-do list. I could barely sit down to finish a pattern, and when I did, it felt systematic and uninspired.
Does this feel familiar to you? I’m sure we’ve all been sucked into all the to-do’s while ignoring the cries of our Creative Spirit. It happens when we are living in a society that values productivity over creativity. But what happens when your dream is to run a creative business? It’s essential to CREATE in the midst of the to-do list!
Sometimes you have to Let Go!
Set yourself free!
Sometimes you have to Let Go! Set yourself free!
I decided to let go of my ‘Should Do’ list and focus on what I wanted to do most. It started with checking off personal projects that have been calling to me: throw pillows created from my Happy Camper fabric, a summer robe created from my Groovy Spring Floral and Plaid fabric, and a wood block art print that I’ve been wanting to test.
I could feel my Creative Spirit tingle with curiosity again. It’s a golden rule that I know all too well (and often ignore) - creating anything allows more creative energy to flow through you.
What else did I want to try my hand at? Feeling more free in my art creation! My style is whimsical and fun, but I was beginning to feel rigid even in the early stages of design because I had an end product in mind. I was feeling a bit stifled by my own expectations. The best way to overcome that is to free yourself from expectation and simply PLAY! Yes, this is something I preach all the time - it’s because I forget it all the time!
Here are some illustrations that I had fun drawing in Procreate. I intentionally kept it loose and free and I love them! I am looking forward to seeing where this latest playtime adventure takes my art style.
When was the last time you felt loose and free when you sat down to create?
I encourage you to get out of your to-do list and play. Trust me, everything will still be waiting when you return AND you will feel more energized to conquer the mundane. You must learn to LET GO in order to GROW!