Why You Don't Create More: The Crucial Difference Between "Working" And "Struggling" When You Create

How much of the time you spend creating is a struggle?

A new and ambitious creative project will involve a high volume of activity, and a large investment of your time and creativity. But even though you’re spending a great deal of time on the project, it needn’t be a struggle.

In fact it can be among the most enjoyable things you do.

It's when we confuse "working" with "struggling" that the problems start and procrastination kicks in.

If we're creating the things most valuable and important to us, yes they'll be challenging, exciting and involve us putting in the energy and the hours. But they won't be a struggle.

Because underneath the work is the passion.

And the knowledge - the deep sense of knowing - that this is exactly where you should be, and this is exactly what you should be creating right now. It's the next step in the natural evolution of your creativity.

When we struggle, we lose motivation, we question why we're working so hard. The "work" changes in our perception.

Instead of “work” meaning: "time and energy invested in a project that's valuable, important and enjoyable to me", it becomes something else.

When you’re struggling, this same "work" becomes more like: "a slog, a chore, difficult effort that offers no desirable reward".

That's if we get going with the creative project at all!

If just the thought of creating seems like too much of a struggle, we don't even get started.

And unused creative potential is one of the greatest tragedies there is.

Here’s a couple of examples:

Example 1:

Working Hard: I spent 2 hours on writing my new book yesterday. I got about 2000 words written and I’m now much clearer about the main relationship in the story. I’m really enjoying my writing at the moment.

Struggling Hard: I spent 2 hours on my new book yesterday. I can’t get going with it, the story isn’t working, and I don’t even like my lead characters. I’m wondering if this is the right novel to be working on for me.

Example 2:

Working Hard: I’ve been painting every evening this week. It’s amazing what you can achieve with small steps day by day. I’m really in the flow right now, and feel my painting skills are progressing all the time.

Struggling Hard: I’ve been painting every evening this week. Or at least going to paint. I can’t decide on where to start, and spend so long trying to choose I just wear myself out and then run out of time.

In both of these example the amount of time being spent is the same. But the outcomes, the progress and most importantly the ENJOYMENT of creating, are vastly different.

So if the creative work you're doing feels all struggle with little enjoyment and reward, it's time to question whether you're creating the things most important to you.

Are you creating from your heart and your deepest passions? Or are you creating according to the "shoulds" of someone else's idea of what to create?

Find out more about how to stop struggling and increase YOUR creativity by subscribing to "Create Create!" - Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin's free twice monthly ezine. Sign up today and get your FREE copy of the “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook.

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