THE CREATIVE GENIUS

These days I am so fascinated by the creative process. 
I recently finished the great book 'Big Magic' by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is full of inspiring theories of creativity and the human greatness. If you have any interest in creativity- you will love this book.

It keeps me thinking about the creative process. We are all surrounded by awesome products made by awesome people. What we mostly see is the result of an creative expression: a greatly written book, a beautiful song or a finished painting.
We hear many success stories, one after the other. Online we find immense amounts of good stories how she lost 5 kg, how he wrote his new successful book, how she've built up a big enterprise within month. I love these stories. They are inspiring and pushing us to get super involved in our own projects. And to dream big. 

It keeps me thinking: I want that, too! I want to be a creative maker. But sometimes I struggle within the making process. I came across this great quote about the different phases of the creative process:

​What we don't get to see is what happens behind the scenes: the sweat, the endless hours of work and the patience that goes into every masterpiece. 
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Few people talk about the middle part. Because, the middle of the creative process is actually the hardest part. When your inspiration is gone, you are exhausted and not sure where this is going. It's when you lie awake in bed wondering where it had gone wrong. This uncomfortable feeling of being lost. You feel like shit. Feeling miserable and vulnerable. Feeling stuck. Some also call it a creative block. We try harder, push harder,....or think about giving up. 

As any artist can tell you, there comes a point in creation where the maker start to become filled with self-doubt. Ready to give it all up. This is the messy middle.

​When we are right within the messy middle, we don't see where this is going. And we don't see that this is part of the journey.
When you are going right through it's hell.
It's struggle.
It's disappointment.
It's heartbreak. 

In these moments, it is crucial to stick with it.

It is important to embrace the struggle, to follow through it and to turn that beautiful mess into something that you really love. ​To embrace the messy middle. 

I can tell you from experience that it is such a relief when you realise, that there is nothing wrong with you! When we realise that we are still worthy of love and belonging within our struggles. And maybe just because of them! This mess will go over and it's normal. It is just part of the process.

Actually, it is a very common thing: In the script of a novel, for example, the messy middle is when the main character must face a tough journey to learn a lesson. That's rule number one in every storytelling, movie or novel. 
​We have to get used to the idea that we will fail, but that this is not a problem. It's the challenge to get through it. To not let it stop us from finishing our projects.

It is normal to fall down. And to get up again. 
Or as amazing Brene Brown puts it in: 

I wish you the courage and fun to get through it and keep making awesome things.
So, let's keep on going, rocking our projects. Including the messy middle. 

​​Big hug, Lisa

And meanwhile on Instagram

I love Instagram – it’s my favorite online home! Here’s a recap from the last week, and for those of you who aren’t on Instagram, come and join me! ​