Are you exercising unconditional creative regard?
Do you allow yourself to explore your creativity in full or are you placing conditions on it that hamper it’s growth and/or existence?
Jessica Harkins (my Unashamedly Six co-creator and the designer for Freelance Jungle) and I were talking about why our creative partnership works recently. With her usual complete insight and absolutely judgement-free way of viewing the world, Jess said I inspire her to make creative moves she wouldn’t find the energy to do solo because I provide the ignition point. She in turn makes sure that beginning doesn’t falter.
I am always good with starting the idea. Stamina however eludes me. After the initial excitement and burst of energy, my adrenaline leaves, I become unshelled and filled with doubt.
And she knows it. She in turn acts like the bellows to my fire when it burns out. She adds her part, fanning the flames with her own take.
Each project is like a creative baton. I start. We pass it between each other and watch the project grow. She finishes.
And on and on it goes.
Each time the baton passes, my doubtful shadows are smaller.
Each time I hand it back, Jess’ engine is easier to start.
We run, we play, we pass, we get curious, we investigate, we pass some more, we chat, we create.
If there is such a thing as unconditional creativity, I believe I have found it.
Many of us are not so lucky.
![grid book reads - working on your business is hard if you’re not used to putting yourself first. grid book reads - working on your business is hard if you’re not used to putting yourself first.](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd91ddeab-9698-481c-bdbc-60ec2f555b11_3072x4080.jpeg)
A creative silo within
I read a recent article about Parkway Drive, an ARIA-winning Australian band. The article talks about how the band took on too much and were so afraid of being letdown, they couldn’t delegate. As a result, they wore too many hats and had too much work. They relied on an outdated creative hierarchy that informed their finances and creative choices, festering tensions within. This all combined and invited bullying and ultimately, burn out.
It wasn’t until they sought therapy as a band, they realised all the damage they were doing to each other, themselves and the creative process.
You read the article and you can see how the problems grew. But hindsight is always twenty-twenty. It’s another thing entirely when you are living in it. The more we place pressure on ourselves and others for creativity to occur, the more the problems stack up.
Creativity already carries barbs that lead to poisoning with self-doubt. Money and time are the forever see-saw bringing friction. Commercialising creativity creates an added pressure. We often don’t allow ourselves unconditional creative support. It’s stolen from us by competing priorities.
Observe:
1. When was the last time you created for yourself instead of the way your audience might receive it?
2. Are you forcing yourself to be a hit machine? Do you ask yourself to get it right all the time for your clients, your marketing, and your creative practice in general?
3. Do you make excuses for the lack of remuneration you receive for creative work by attempting to convince yourself other people who make money (or more money) are less community-minded, creative or a sell-out? Or conversely, put out work you aren’t as happy with or takes less risks simply for commercial reasons?
4. What sorts of standards do you expect from your creativity?
5. When was the last time you let a mistake be a mistake? One that leaves you without having to justify it, learn from it or ruminating on it for long?
6. Do you set goals to challenge yourself and foster curiosity? Or do you goad yourself to action telling yourself that if you don’t succeed, you’ve blown your chances?
A lack of unconditional creative support can also make us hard on others:
7. What kinds of standards do you put on the creativity of other people?
8. Do you avoid supporting people’s projects, social media posts and ideas you like because you don’t like the person creating them?
9. Do you avoid sharing other people’s works or giving them praise because you don’t want to attract attention to someone else’s promising idea?
10. Are you supporting, buoying and exciting people you collaborate with to do more and to do better? Or are you frustrated, critical, difficult and/or find yourself chasing opportunities to direct, coach and feel superior even when not warranted, requested and/or appropriate?
11. Can you cope with other people making mistakes? Or do the mistakes of others frustrate and bother you, leading to less productive behaviours (e.g. gossiping, mocking, judging, grammar shaming etc)?
12. Do you recognise the subjective nature of creativity? Or do you place boundaries around creativity that implies certain work is less valuable, proficient, meaningful or worthwhile than others?
We’re all guilty of torturing our work and the work of others by placing too many conditions on the practice and the process.
Instead, if you find yourself about to judge creative work:
· Reframe your thinking to see the challenges within the process
· Find something to admire
· Ask yourself where the judgement is coming from
· Focus on the project, not the person (you or anyone else!)
· Check in with your mood, level of tiredness and how you feel today
· Look at the history of your sentiments – and whether they are still valid
· Zoom out and look for the work’s wider context
· Create something that appeals to you more instead
Looking for places to hang and learn?
Crowdcast and I have parted ways, so update your diary with these upcoming classes and events:
Oct 25th - How to support things you care about and get clients through campaign work - Join Jessica Harkins & Rebekah Lambert as they take you through how to create campaigns to promote your freelance business and highlight things you care about.
Nov 4th - How to publish your non-fiction book - Want to translate your knowledge into a book? Learn how to self-publish your non-fiction book with author Anna Featherstone in this free Freelance Jungle event.
4th Nov – Freelance Jungle stress down - The stress down is where we meet up to talk about issues with clients, problems with freelancing, things on your mind and anything that might be causing you more stress with your freelancing and creative practice than it should. It's a safe space where you can decompress and share with others.
4th Nov – Jungle Pod catchup - mission control is calling all podsters for a catch up to check in on the shape of pods, see how things are travelling, bring on new crew mates and who might need a service for their little accountability shuttle. (Patreon only – see Patreon for details)
Nov 5th – Translating creativity into paying your way – this is an in-person workshop I am doing for the South Coast Writer’s Centre in the Illawarra. Paid ticket goes to keeping SCWC doing their amazing work.
Nov 15th - How to make writing your life - Join Andrea Rowe as she explains what it takes to create a writer’s life. Andrea runs the Peninsula Writer’s Group and is a highly successful author of the award-winning Jetty Jumping.
FINAL CALL – DEADLINE PARTY (Patreon only)
The Spring Deadline Party kicks off November 15th. Join us for an hour a week in a small group as we cross off a project or idea from the TO DO List in a supportive, initiative-taking and educational environment. If you’re tired of hearing the deadline whizz past and want to get that creative, business or side hustle project up and running, now is your chance. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/spring_deadline
16th Nov – Crafternoons with Hayley - Chilling, chatting and crafting. A mid-week break to step away from the stressful stuff and sew, sketch, sticker.
Other things you might find interesting
Interested in the lucrative government contract work? Read this weighty and informative article based on a presentation on government contact work with Nicole Leedham. Find out why play is important for freelancers with the action replay of our session with Makeshifts Caitlin Marshall. Get excited about social media video with this action replay with the incredibly informative Clementine Holman. Learn Google Ads with the incredibly skilled and very approachable Melinda Samson in this action replay.
Vivienne Pearson is presenting a great course on Opinion Writing for the Australian Writer’s Centre. Anna Spargo-Ryan has released the amazing memoir (covers anxiety, creativity, life and more) called A Kind of Magic. Martina Donkers is breaking down the reasons why so many grants are unsuccessful to help you learn. Congratulations to local Illawarra freelancer, Kate O’Mealley, who is now the new owner of local culture, tourism and hospitality magazine, Coal Coast. And shout out to musician Helen Perris for playing alongside me with the #unself Instagram challenge and fellow grief writer Virginia Muzik for encouraging me to to the #AusWrites challenge on Twitter.
In all things, love yourself enough to see creativity as a baton pass to your confidence. Not a stick to belt it with.
Love and other creative ways to deal with the human condition,
Rebekah