The freedom to create whenever you want is a luxury most of us can’t completely afford – yet.
Think about it for a moment. It’s not enough to have the freedom to create, as we all do but rather the freedom to create at any given time during the day.
For example, many of us have a “9 to 5” job and we can’t “create” during those times since we’re attempting to honor and respect our employer with that time that is being traded for dollars. You have to wait until “after hours” to do some of your more creative work.
You have to wait until you get home, which, has it’s own responsibilities and demands as well. Married? You have to spend time with your spouse. Parent? Time with kids, driving them to events, playing with them, cleaning diapers.
All these things are good, by the way, but you know what I’m talking about. By the time you have a few minutes of truly creative freedom your energy is sapped and although you may be motivated the time available isn’t enough to get into the flow of things. It’s just not deep enough to pick the nuggets of pure genius in that cave mind of yours because you only have time enough to walk a few feet in.
Creative freedom “after hours” isn’t creative freedom at all. It’s amputated and muted.
But here’s an interesting flip-side to the coin, if you will. This forced boundary and limitation might also be your greatest ally.
How will you clearly know whether it’s your worst enemy or greatest friend? Only you will be able to answer that.
My greatest creative insights happen … while doing the dishes! I think one of the greatest allies for creativity is time. Time to let problems brew and let the backside of your brain work things out while you’re engaged with other activities. It’s those “non-creative” times that some of the greatest revelations occur.
I also think you’re right about boundaries.
You might find this article interesting: http://scottberkun.com/2011/why-you-get-ideas-in-the-shower/
Show notes–I love it!
I currently have very few responsibilities, lots of free time… and I’m not much more productive that I was when I had a lot of responsibilities. I’m trying to figure out why that is.
I think the first issue (which I’m still working through) is a lack of vision. Before, I wasn’t used to being able to decide what to do, rather than other people telling me. Before, any free time was used for wild hedonism – now, I’m learning to set and achieve goals.
And that’s the second problem, a lack of self-discipline. School and work train us to rely on external discipline, someone else making sure we do what we’re supposed to. I’m starting to build the ability to stick to my own goals, but I’ve still got a way to go.