Old habits die hard. Creative habits die harder. In the world of creativity our habits are designed like scaffolding to support our nonlinear exploration of art and the world. We look for inspiration in particular ways, we work at certain hours, we pace ourselves according to what has proven to work for us. In the end we continue these habits because they consistently give us an acceptable outcome; we have a finished project.
However, like all others, creative habits might not always serve us. We may outgrow them, they may become dull or maybe they never worked that well in the first place. When this happens, how long will you spend in an effort to revive them and why are you so attached anyhow? Spencer Johnson, M.D. wrote a book about this called Who Moved My Cheese? and he goes into detail about what’s behind our fear of change. It’s been a long time since I’ve read that book but the first thing that pops into my mind in answer to the question is discomfort.
We’re not comfortable being uncomfortable. We’re almost superstitious about the way we do everything, believing that for us there’s only one approach to whatever we’re trying to solve. Life problems are no different from creative problems. The way I solve a life issue is the same way I solve a creative one. In my case, I automatically become emotional and obsess on details. While I realize other people may use logic and the big picture in order to solve their problems, in the past I have discounted that approach for myself because it is totally unfamiliar and disorienting.
A BREAKTHROUGH - or how my 365 project made me uncomfortable
When I started my 365, one of the things I realized was it is a rapid-pace idea generating exercise, built for long term stamina. I wasn’t going to be able to use my emotional/detail-oriented creative habits to get myself through this project. I had to decide what I valued more, my comfort zone or a new creative adventure. Of course I chose the adventure but it wasn’t without serious growing pains.
What most people say when they consider a 365 project is, “I don’t think I could do that EVERY DAY”. They follow their statement with a reason why not: I’d get so bored. I don’t have time. I’d run out of ideas. The way I translate these excuses is people are afraid to shake things up or be temporarily uncomfortable in place of a long term benefit. This isn’t a judgment. Not everybody should do a 365 project just like not everybody should volunteer in a soup kitchen or train for a marathon. There are conditions to these things that aren’t acceptable to some people and it’s good to know your limits and priorities. It isn’t helpful to jump on every idea that comes your way (and I don’t suggest you do!) but remember than an automatic “no” isn’t the answer either.
As a result of saying “yes” to my 365 project, I’ve stretched myself into a new position where I am capable of seeing the big picture. At first I hated this perspective because it was overwhelming and almost panic inducing. It felt suffocating to say to myself, “one day down, 3-6-4 to go”. The number of days loomed large and the year felt like it could swallow me. However, after eventually succumbing to the reality of the hugeness of the project, it actually began to look quite small. I learned to focus on my daily work as part of a larger project and equally appreciate both the immediate and long term aspects of my work. After all my years of being alive, this is the first time I’ve ever been able to get past my detail-oriented point of view long enough to benefit from a fresh perspective.
WELL, THAT’S NICE BUT… - or here’s a shortcut
So, you’re not sold on starting a 365 project but you’re curious about testing my theory that you have a creative comfort zone of your own and it’s not doing you any favors.
I suggest you grab a pen and paper and make two columns. One will represent your creative projects and the other will represent your daily life. Describe how you approach each. Be as specific or as vague as you want. When you’re finished, look at the words or ideas that are similar. These are the borders of your comfort zone.
Pick one of these ideas/words and decide for the next week to try the opposite approach in your creative and daily life. Set yourself up to do experiments.
For example, in my little list below, the first word I happened to write down in both columns is “slow”. (I’m a snail, people!) So for this exercise, I will remind myself over the next week that I need to be quick. I will set deadlines. I will make quick household decisions, I will not procrastinate, I will be as time-efficient as possible. Maybe I won’t like it. Maybe I will. Maybe I’ll return to being slow in the future but I’ll realize that I’m actually capable of being quick when I need to be and the world won’t fall apart because of it. (Notice that I put little check marks on a couple of other habits…that’s because I like those ones, they’re keepers!)
Just push yourself a little bit, enough to make yourself uncomfortable but not irritated. Go gently. Become aware of your edges, laugh at them. Try new ideas without feeling the burden of permanency. Notice when you feel discomfort and what distractions you use to avoid the feeling. Observe yourself. Surprise yourself. What else can you learn about being too comfortable? What else do you only assume to be a limitation? How many ways can you become habitually limber?
My hope for you is that you will see discomfort as nothing but a small block and once you can move past it, you will be far more empowered to go on to new adventures.
