There is this very common belief that if you try to make money doing something creative, you will kill your love for it. Although it doesn’t have to be true, I think it is a common belief for a very legitimate reason. And this is the same reason behind any experience any of us have when we start out enjoying something and end up resenting it or avoiding it.
One of my college students recently told me an interesting anecdote. In one of her classes, there was an opportunity to get extra credit by writing a paper. She really could have used those extra points because she didn’t do some of the work for the class despite her interest in the subject. This was very frustrating for her. After the class had ended, she re-read the prompt for the extra credit paper and almost couldn’t stop herself from doing the research. Before she knew it, she had completed all the research and wrote the paper just because she enjoyed it!
Why did she suddenly have motivation? Because it no longer mattered. Because the pressure was off. And then her energy and passion could just flow right into joyfully writing the paper with minimal effort.
Pressure is the reason why something we love to do can become a burden - pressure we feel from others, but, more importantly, the pressure we put on ourselves.
So, how do we take the pressure off? Here are a few ideas:
1. Become aware of your thoughts and how they make you feel. We all talk to ourselves. It is hard to find a time when we are not! Taking time to really notice what you are saying to yourself and how it makes you feel is always super enlightening! If you don’t like how you make yourself feel, then you can now do something about it.
2. Choose thoughts that change the focus from the outcome to the process. For example, if you catch yourself thinking, “This HAS to turn out good,” maybe you could say something else to yourself like, “I want to feel good while doing this.”
3. Choose thoughts that transform “knowing” to curiosity. For example, if you catch yourself thinking, “I just know this isn’t going to be as good as I want it to be,” maybe you could try a different approach such as, “I wonder how it will turn out this time.”
4. Write out all your expectations and what you think others expect from you in regards to what you are working on. When it is all out there in the open, it can be rather eye-opening. You can more consciously and intentionally keep the expectations that feel good and practice letting go of those that don’t.
5. Talk it out. Just expressing the pressure you feel can release so much of it! Especially when you find someone who listens well and always makes you feel supported.
6. Take a break! Ever notice how the best ideas happen in the shower or while you are smack dab in the middle of grocery shopping or out on a long walk? Sometimes, when we stop trying to force something, we allow space for ideas just to flow in our heads!
During the second week of our Create-It Class, we will take the pressure off and set ourselves up for joy and flow in the creative process.
What has pressure kept you from creating with joy? What are other ways you can take the pressure off?
You can also join us monthly gatherings in partnership with FeelReal. Learn more about our Creative Wisdom Doodle-Shops and our Thriving Artists gathering.