Thoughts on creativity
June 07, 2010
“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am in the final stages of this book, and it’s taken a lot of dicipline for me to get work done. But in this case, my work isn’t typical “work.” It requires a very lucid and creative mind, which under the normal pressures of mothering young children, is usually the first thing to go out the window.
It’s made me think a bit:
How can I keep my creativity from sagging while spending most of my day in exhausting responsibilities? Especially motherhood responsibilities?
I am a young mother. I’m 30. I have 3 kids all at home, under school age. That means from 6 am – 8 pm I am 110% with my kids. Feeding, playing, cleaning, teaching, driving, disciplining, scheduling, paying bills, calling, observing, making lists, and then feeding, playing, cleaning, kissing and bedding. For 14 hours a day. And then, at 8pm (lately 7pm since my husband is on kid duty for all the “I can’t fall asleep” moments) I am illustrating. Now don’t get me wrong. I LOVE motherhood. I absolutely adore being with my kids, and we love being all together. I am so blessed to be a mother, and try and live every day in gratitude for these 3 precious blessings. We have a lot of fun around here. But….let’s keep it real. Motherhood is hard work.
This I know: Nothing kills creativity more than 1) exhaustion and 2) scheduled mundane responsibilities
How does a young mother with so many responsibilities all day, shift into “play mode” herself when the exhaustion sets in?
I can’t say I have the answer, but I have found one. And since I think (I hope) there are others of you out there like me, I hope this helps.
Living in the present.
What I know about creativity is that it flows freely when we are loosed from the past and not gripped by the future. We must be fully present to have full access to our creativity. This might seem obvious to some, but what tangles it up are the duties of motherhood which so easily catch us up with worries about the future, thoughts of the past and how fast our children are leaving it, and the duties of the present day which often lead to exhaustion and what I call “robot mode:” going through the list of to-do’s as quickly as possible but finding by the end we feel like a machine; a feeding, cleaning, cooking, running around machine.
How often, for instance, are you talking on the phone and getting your kids dressed and making breakfast on the stove? Happens a lot around here. Nothing is wrong with multi-tasking, but it can keep us from being present minded.
But how, do you ask, can we stay present minded when there are so many responsibilities pressuring us all around?
1) Be aware. Notice the chubby legs when you are putting them through those pant holes. Listen to the sound of the scrambled eggs popping. Watch the leaves blowing when you are on a walk with the kids. Feel the soft cotton when you are folding clothes. Your senses will be hightened even amidst routine work, and your mind will focus on the ‘now.’
2) Slow down: Look at your list of things to do, and knock out half. You will most likely only get a few done anyways, so don’t let your mind worry about more than it can handle. Do one at a time and do them well and to completion.
3) Breathe: Taking time to center yourself physically is vital. It doesn’t have to be yoga or a full hour of mediation. Even just 10 deep breathes with your body in an open, strethed position can wake up your cells to a full sense of being alive.
4) Have gratitude: Love what you do and embrace what comes every day. When you are doing the dishes be grateful for the food you have. When you picking random clothes everywhere, be grateful for fun loving children, that though messy, are yours. This turns work into joy. This brings your mind to the present and frees you of unnessesary stresses.
5) Notice how children see the world: Children are creative beings by definition. They are constantly living in the ‘now.’ They can’t comprehend the future, and they aren’t capable of digesting the past. They are in a constant state of awareness and discovery. Notice how their work is their play, and their play is their work. They can find joy in a simple accomplishment. They can find joy in a simple beauty. Adults can re-learn this skill and in doing so, discover creativity in their daily work.
This is my focus this month. I will be honest, and say that these 5 things are easily forgotten in this crazy world. But I do know, that by letting myself be present minded in my daily work as a mother allows for creativity to shine through what would normal squish it. It’s a challenge for sure, and it takes constant reminding. But it works.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this too. It’s a journey that I think so many of us are on, and we can learn so much from each other!
“The living moment is everything.” - D.H. Lawrence
Love to you all,
Sarah
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Just Not Cutting It | Gina G. Smith
June 9th, 2010 on 6:14 am[...] (or 2 or 3). I find that I need creativity in some form or another each day in order to thrive. This post about finding ways to stay creative was helpful and encouraging to me. The time I would spend agonizing over coupons and compiling [...]
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For Young Readers
June 22nd, 2010 on 1:36 am[...] He was such an inspiration. He is a family man (5 kids!) which meant a lot to me especially after writing this post on keeping your creative mind fresh and active while managing a growing [...]
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I am a mom to an amazing 5 year old girl and the wife of a very supportive husband. My professional life is in transition right now. I am moving from full time to part time in my role as a school counselor and have opened an etsy store where I make art for children. What I am struggling with now is that sense that I “should” be working on the shop pretty much all the time. It’s messing with my creative mind and I don’t feel like I can really relax. Should I create a schedule? Who knows?! But thanks for the post
I love this! I’m going to print it out & look at it often
I sometimes tell my husband that I used to be such a great (creative) mom before I had our son! Now as a stay-at-home mom doing a little graphic design work on the side, I can’t believe HOW HARD it is to focus on anything after spending the day w/ my very busy toddler -much less try to be creative!
What a great perspective you have on life – even when washing the dishes & picking up messes! Thanks for passing along some inspiration to the rest of us!
these things are SO important- being aware especially. it seems like everyone is too busy to be aware, and the little things are forgotten… thanks for the reminder!
I love this post. It’s so true, and something I feel everyone in the world has a hard time with. I know as I watch my 3 year old grow up I need to slow down. Luckily for us, living in Dominica, really helps with that. My list of “to do’s” and errands has been cut in half, and for that I’m grateful. Ironically, this month I’m reading a book with some friends called Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, and although it focuses on a more spiritual awareness, I think they’re all inter-connected, wouldn’t you say?
When you get a second… add that book to your “to read list”:) ha.
Great Post Sarah, here is one of my favorite lines from our last General Conference–an amazing talk given by Julie Beck: “When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed. For instance, mothers can feel help from the Spirit even when tired, noisy children are clamoring for attention, but they can be distanced from the Spirit if they lose their temper with children.”
So true! I love your thoughts!
Danielle: I can’t say I have any answers! But from my own experience, finding a balance between work and family is key. I know that when I am needed with my kids, that’s where I need to be. When those duties are freed up (either by sleep, babysitters or friends) I am free to do what I need for work. And there will be a fair amount of mixing: but as early as you can, and with a start up, it’s SO hard, set boundaries. There will ALWAYS be a never ending list of things to work on in your shop.
Michelle: So glad you feel that same way! I think as mom’s we think we should be doing everything!
Chelsea: That’s a great book! Thanks for the recommendation.
Julie: I LOVED this talk. My favorite for sure. The link to more is here: http://bit.ly/cyaQJT
Thanks you guys! Keep em’ comin!
Thanks so much for your post. I’m a kid’s writer, and absolutely love your blog. I bought one of your prints a while back – to hang on my wall to inspire me – and I am so happy to see you have a book coming out! And everything you are saying is right 100%, and much of what I try to practice each day. It is difficult, but like you said, you just have to keep pulling your attention to yourself, your life, your creativity, and the gratefulness for it all every day.
Thanks again for sharing!
One thing that helps me to stay in the present is to empty my head of anything getting its attention a la David Allen and Getting Things Done. Once my head is clear, then I have room to think and play about things of MY choosing.
Thanks for this post. I have two at home (3.5 years and 8 months) and yes, it is hard. My biggest problem is how bored I am doing the mundane tasks. Laundry, dishes, lunches, diapers, etc. I go on robot mode and my mind wanders t all the other things I could or should be doing. When I stay present it isn’t quite so boring. When I bring beauty to the mundane it isn’t boring. Thanks for the reminder.
Beautiful. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the beautiful inspiration Sarah! You are truly an amazing creative person and Mother too. XOXO.
I love this article, thankyou for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
I think you are amazing at the juggling. Oh how I wish we lived close to each other! This past weekend was a cruel taste of what could be- it left me hungerng for more. I miss you. jen
As a young mother and artist, I can really identify with you!
This was a nice post. It is hard to stay in the moment where there is so much to do. My daughters are 5 and 7, the tiny kid craziness is getting replaced with bigger kid craziness. I steal moments during quiet time and after they go to bed to work. I really think that helps me be in the moment, too, and not second-guess my art as much. Be proud of all that you have accomplished and know that you are setting a very positive example for your kids!
so beautiful and so true. thank you for your inspitation and letting me in on glimpses of your life. blessings from michigan:)
True story Sarah! Motherhood is the most challenging and rewarding experience that any woman can have! I am in a similar boat as you (minus one kid) I’m 28 with a 3 year old and a 1 year old. I stay at home with my boys, and take care of all the day to day things; but also design houses and have an Etsy shop ‘on the side.’ I struggle daily to find a balance. Your post was very inspirational. Thank you!
Angela
I love your beautiful insights to motherhood and life. This was very well written post. I appreciate you putting to words some of my very own feelings. Thank you for your work.
You put this in words very well, Sarah! Point 5 is something which I have made the theme of my art quilts for the last couple of years – how children discover the world – and it has certainly been wonderful to merge my creative pursuits with mothering my four children in this way – every moment (well, much of the time anyway) feeds my swirl of creative thoughts and ideas in my head! Thanks for sharing how you work!
[...] (or 2 or 3). I find that I need creativity in some form or another each day in order to thrive. This post about finding ways to stay creative was helpful and encouraging to me. The time I would spend agonizing over coupons and compiling [...]
You’re wonderful. Thankyou.
Another thought is that motherhood itself is a creative job if we allow it to be. Yes, there are many aspects of it that are routine and mundane, but the thing I love about it, is the chance it gives me to look at the world through a more imaginative lens. Not only that, but we create life and we get to teach and influence little impressionable souls……when we stop and soak that in, I think it opens us up to our creative power in all areas of who we are. It reminds us that we are born to create.
Well put, Sarah! I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. I feel overwhelmed most of the time. But I’ve found that self-forgiveness for not meeting all my crazy expectations of myself helps a lot. I figure if I get one household chore done a day, that is good. I am so impressed by what you are able to accomplish–you inspire me, and that is one of the reasons I like to read your blog.
Beautiful words. Thank you for the reminder.
I love this post! I’m a portrait photographer, and I surround myself with a lot of the same. I was challenged recenetly to switch from viewing other photography to observing the things I love for inspiration. Instead of perusing blogs…lie on a blanket in the field. Instead of browsing a magazine….watch a mother play with her children. Observing real life helps me bring the emotions to life in my images and gives me fresher ideas than trying to regenerate something that has already been done.
Great post Sara! I have been struggling with balance and being true to myself and those around me – I feel as when I give myself wholeheartedly in one direction I miss part of life going by on the other. Your point about noticing the children made me pause and think – they’re so carefree but yet fully aware of their surroundings. thank you for posting this. It’s sure has been a journey and I am glad we’re sharing on it together.
xoxo
V
This is a great post!
Wow. Thanks you guys. I have loved reading every one of your comments. You have inspired me! And so many of you are in this same boat…I feel like we can all relate! It’s really all a matter of balance. And it’s an art to keep it that way:)
As a mother of four, graphic designer, and writer, I LOVED THIS POST. Well said, and well thought. I agree with a previous comment: motherhood is THE most creative job of all. Lovely post. I think I’ll bookmark it and read it when I’m feeling uninspired. Thank you for sharing!
[...] « Thoughts on creativity [...]
[...] He was such an inspiration. He is a family man (5 kids!) which meant a lot to me especially after writing this post on keeping your creative mind fresh and active while managing a growing [...]
I love this post, Sarah!!! Oh my goodness, that is so funny that we’ve both been on the same wavelength of thought! It really is true, though: gratitude does make such a difference. I loved your thoughts on how children live in the present, too. That really helped me take what I’ve already been pondering and see it in an even clearer light.
loved this writing!