Think back a few months… all the way to January. Did you proclaim a grand statement for this year like, “This is the year to focus and finish the open projects on my list!” Or this, “I will finish that painting I put aside and call my list of collectors to tell them about the new piece!”
What good are all the grand ideas and creative projects that if they stay on scribble notes?
Words have power. Another reason that creative projects are in various states of disarray is that we assign a weak work to it. We say, “I’m just fooling around with the idea” or “it’s just something I’m thinking about.” What if those same projects had strong words and your commitment attached to them? If you’ve chosen a word that is defeating, change it!
Change the word interests to commitments.
What if you new a secret that would change your life? The 7 steps that professional artists know — that could be a game changer for you? If you still have a few dangling project darlings that have quietly been scooted out of sight, drag them out and let’s have a look shall we?
Don’t be nervous.
Let’s face full-on the polar opposites of creativity and freedom…
Structure and focus.
Here’s a hot tip I bet you already know, and one I’m finally getting: Structure and focus are not big hairy monsters – salivating at every opportunity to squash creativity and freedom! And what’s more… scheduling will NOT cut off my freedom nor yours either!
Focus and the right system and tools will actually help to get things DONE!
Wouldn’t that be soooo cool!? Done! Checked off! Next!
One challenge most artists have, that I have, is the ability to do lots of different things and enjoy a lot of interests. We see, observe, feel and take in a ton of information – so much so, that what starts out as an amazing quality, actually causes shutdown. If you put down the shiny objects and do the boring thing, you’ll be happy, healthier and less stressed. You’ll free up room for that commission that’s waiting for you to make space for it… and in a few months, you’ll look back at today and be amazed at yourself at how much you’ve accomplished!
7 Simple Steps to Finish Your Creative Projects:
- Create a master list for your year with due dates. Start this month, anytime of year works.
- Create a weekly list with only three priorities. (you can add more when you get those done!)
- Break down those priorities into the tasks it takes to get them done.
- Review daily.
- Check off what you’ve finished
- Update your list.
- Pick a reward that you’ll enjoy when you finish your week.
Get out of the mindset that structure ruins creativity.
Ingrain yourself with this new belief: creating structure for your day will open up time to create and complete your projects. Take inspiration from Martin Luther King that extraordinary success, depends on what you believe.
Myth: If you pick one thing, you’ll forfeit all of the other great things and they’ll be lost forever and you’ll be stuck in on identity. HA!
Truth: If you’re not sharing all of that great stuff about you – if you’re not translating it all through your unique filter of expression, then there will never be any ignition point where you produce and thrive and you will never ignite that passion in another person that might need your brand of expressing to light up. BUT, you have to focus on only a few at a time.
We don’t get to control the outcome of our actions and whether they succeed or fail, but we can control not letting any failures become setbacks.
And, if we are going to succeed or fail at anything – why not succeed or fail at something we actually care about?
Daily routine to try:
Up early, stretch/exercise, meditation/visualize your day, writing/journaling.
Accept the chance to change and welcome structure.
What’s one idea that you’ll try today? Commit by leaving a comment. 😉
You can do this. Have a lovely week,
Roxanne
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