Beyond 'Proper Work'
Jun 27, 2018What is your definition of 'proper work'?
I have recently been working on going to a new level of creativity and flow in my business. And I have been confronted by my beliefs around how creativity is not ‘proper’ work’. You see, I am realising that ‘proper work’ is still for me about discipline - getting through my list of things to do.
I have spent a lot of time structuring my work the way I want to. But I am realising that I still trust certain aspects of myself more than others. It seems that I trust being serious and efficient more than the play of creativity. So creativity is something that I have been leaving until after I have done the ‘real work’. Of course never quite getting to it.
Considering I am creating some new online programmes at the moment, that is not very helpful! But I can see how my brain still struggles with the concept that being creative IS the work.
Which parts of you do you ignore?
We all have this in some way. We trust certain aspects of our potential more than others. Part of navigating pivotal moments is learning to trust and reintegrate new aspects of potential. The ones we don’t feel so comfortable with.
Otherwise, we end up a bit like a one trick pony. One that has forgotten that he can jump as well as run.
So just take a minute to think...what aspect of your potential are you ignoring or neglecting? What part wants to come back? For me it is creativity - what is it for you?
And what can you do about it anyway?
What I have been doing is making new space. I now start the day with my creative activities. I realise that I had got into the habit of starting the day with Facebook. Not so great for creativity!
So now after my meditation I have gone back to journalling. That invites the creative flow in. I also take some time to go and just sit outside. And daydream rather than plan.
I don’t look at my list or my emails until I have done an hour of pure creativity. Then I allow myself to go back to what my brain sees as the ‘serious' work. The reality is that I end up spending more than an hour on creative things. Because I remember how much I love it. I loose myself in it. And as I do that I resurrect a part of myself.
Is it worth it?
The benefits... I am much more productive. So far this week I have done the draft content for a module, I created a little video, this blogpost and finally finished the new version of my website. And we are only Wednesday morning.
But more importantly, I feel better. I created space to come home to myself. I realised that the pain in my heart was my ache for writing. I remembered that if I don’t write I go a bit crazy inside. That I write for me - not for you or for my business (sorry!). That it is the life line to my soul. I feel better because my creative potential lives in me and my life again.
So how can you make more space for that new part of you to come back? What new habits would you have to adopt? And what would become possible then?
Until next time,
Louise
Louise Le Gat is an experienced facilitator, speaker, executive coach, and creator of the ‘Positive Energy Leaders’ movement. She helps leaders who are at a pivotal moment in their careers create inspiring and meaningful work that has a positive impact.
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