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I am currently experimenting with video.
And when I say āexperimenting with video,ā I mean āexperimenting with speaking to camera and then posting it up on instagram.ā
I donāt know where it will lead.
I donāt know where it will end.
Andā¦ I donāt care.
I donāt need to know.
Because thatās not the point. Not for this particular endeavour.
The point is not to have it all mapped out.
The point is simply to see what happens. And see what results I get.
How often do you do this in your creative work?
Quite a lot, I bet.
Sometimes.
When the pressure is off. When thereās no āpurpose,ā and itās easy to fuck about and find out.
The problem comes when thereās pressure.
When we decide the result needs to be something other than āfinding out.ā
When the end result needs to be a sale. Or a conversion.
Then weāre fucked.
Because then we start taking the energy out of creating, and start putting it into solving an equation.
Now, I love equations. I love solving things.
But the equation is an explanation.
It describes a process; it is not the process.
The equation is not the process. Just like the map is not the territory.
Our critical-thinking brains love equations and processes. (Mine does, at least.)
They give us the illusion we have it all under control. (!)
And thereās nowt wrong with wanting to feel in control, nor thinking ahead to your quarterly goals.
But, your quarterly goals are not why you are doing this.
When I create a video, obviously part of me has strategic goals in mind.
But thatās not where I create from.
I do not create from āI must make a sale.ā I create from āI want to offer someone thisā¦ā
Iām sure most of you do too.
But the problem is, we can get very confused and muddled in the in-between. We can find ourselves getting caught up in the space of āwhat are my motivations here?ā and āhow do I make sure they are in integrity with what I want to create?ā
The trick (and by ātrickā I mean ālearned practiceā) is in being able to switch between the strategic, critical thinking part of your brainā¦ and the part of you that wants to connect with another human being.
The trick is in knowing we can switch; and then doing it.
That agility ā that ability to be able to switch between different parts of your brain, that have different motivations and intentions ā is one of the biggest skills and assets you can have when you want to create something new.
Being able to switch between the strategic and the long-term, and the present moment, is what helps you keep perspective. (Itās also what helps you get things done.)
And this is (partially) why I think coaching is so valuable. Because it creates a space and opportunity for you to practise that emotional and thinking agility.
It helps you understand the tools in your āmental toolbox,ā and which ones are best for your current situation.
It also helps you feel more in control (and a lot more capable and resourced), than if you left your entire state of wellbeing to only the critical-thinking part of your brain. (Been there, done that!!)
If youād like to find out more about your thinking and emotional agility, I invite you to book a consultation call with me.
Find out how switching between states (and by that, I mean being able to switch between intentions, focuses, feelings, and desires) will help you in your creativity, creative work, and the creative life you want to lead.
Book a call šæ
Love,
Kathryn