Lessons Learned from a Successful Creative Launch
About this time last year I made a decision to pursue an idea for a major new creative project despite having no idea how I was going to make it a reality or if it would actually work!
Yet I felt deeply inspired to focus my energy directly on my true passion of opening the way for people to discover their authentic voice - on the page and in the world. I also felt a strong impulse to serve a wide, international audience of aspiring and published authors who value a conscious and creative approach to writing for publication.
So I found a source of high quality, reliable information which resonated with me, and I took action to learn what I needed to know to transform my vision into reality.
Along the way, I had to pause to take care of other commitments and priorities. Yet the vision was taking shape so powerfully that I knew intuitively I was on track and chose to trust the unfolding process completely.
Fast forward to today and I am just emerging from what can only be described as the hugely successful launch of the International Association of Conscious & Creative Writers (IACCW).
So here are five of the valuable lessons I have been reminded of from this experience which can be applied to creating and launching any project:
1. Trust your intuition: when it comes to creative projects, you can't work everything out intellectually, especially when you are forging new ground and don't yet know how the details will unfold.
So the more you pay attention to the sense of Knowing which is the hallmark of intuition, the more it will serve you and become your most reliable ally.
Begin by listening to the still, small voice within to enjoy the rewards of this valuable inner resource.
2. Align yourself consciously with the creative flow: the impulse to create actually arises from stillness, silence and space, even if it doesn't always appear that way.
The energy shows up first as sparks of inspiration which progress through the imagination, and onto the page, or out to the world, through whatever form of creative expression you choose.
Prioritise having some space in your life, however busy your schedule is, and commit to nurturing your imagination to maintain your momentum for the duration of your project.
3. Become comfortable with not knowing the 'how': many people feel uncomfortable when they are faced with a new situation they have no previous experience of.
In fact, few people are truly comfortable in a state of 'not knowing'. Yet it is one of the most liberating thresholds to cross when you let go of the need to know 'how' something will happen.
Understand that welcoming the unknown and having confidence that you will find all that you need along the way means you can take appropriate action one step at a time.
4. Balance creative expression and action, with stillness and reflection: it is not possible to remain in a permanently creative and active state without eventually damaging your health and sense of well-being.
Too much of anything can turn into its opposite. Creativity can become destructive when it is out of balance.
Ensure you have regular periods of stillness and reflection, even if it is just 30 minutes at a time, to maintain your balance as the vehicle through which the creative energy flows.
5. Know your 'anchors': creative projects have a way of drawing you in so deeply that it is possible to get lost in the 'story' unless you have anchor points to keep you centred.
Over the years I have developed my own range of 'anchors' which support me to remain grounded and simultaneously connected to Source including: meditation, ashtanga yoga, nature, walking, journal writing, music, space, regular 'time out', and spa days to name just a few!
Ensure that you know what your 'anchors' are and make sure they are part of your regular everyday life. That way you can enjoy the ride to infinity and beyond... and find your way back again!
Yet I felt deeply inspired to focus my energy directly on my true passion of opening the way for people to discover their authentic voice - on the page and in the world. I also felt a strong impulse to serve a wide, international audience of aspiring and published authors who value a conscious and creative approach to writing for publication.
So I found a source of high quality, reliable information which resonated with me, and I took action to learn what I needed to know to transform my vision into reality.
Along the way, I had to pause to take care of other commitments and priorities. Yet the vision was taking shape so powerfully that I knew intuitively I was on track and chose to trust the unfolding process completely.
Fast forward to today and I am just emerging from what can only be described as the hugely successful launch of the International Association of Conscious & Creative Writers (IACCW).
So here are five of the valuable lessons I have been reminded of from this experience which can be applied to creating and launching any project:
1. Trust your intuition: when it comes to creative projects, you can't work everything out intellectually, especially when you are forging new ground and don't yet know how the details will unfold.
So the more you pay attention to the sense of Knowing which is the hallmark of intuition, the more it will serve you and become your most reliable ally.
Begin by listening to the still, small voice within to enjoy the rewards of this valuable inner resource.
2. Align yourself consciously with the creative flow: the impulse to create actually arises from stillness, silence and space, even if it doesn't always appear that way.
The energy shows up first as sparks of inspiration which progress through the imagination, and onto the page, or out to the world, through whatever form of creative expression you choose.
Prioritise having some space in your life, however busy your schedule is, and commit to nurturing your imagination to maintain your momentum for the duration of your project.
3. Become comfortable with not knowing the 'how': many people feel uncomfortable when they are faced with a new situation they have no previous experience of.
In fact, few people are truly comfortable in a state of 'not knowing'. Yet it is one of the most liberating thresholds to cross when you let go of the need to know 'how' something will happen.
Understand that welcoming the unknown and having confidence that you will find all that you need along the way means you can take appropriate action one step at a time.
4. Balance creative expression and action, with stillness and reflection: it is not possible to remain in a permanently creative and active state without eventually damaging your health and sense of well-being.
Too much of anything can turn into its opposite. Creativity can become destructive when it is out of balance.
Ensure you have regular periods of stillness and reflection, even if it is just 30 minutes at a time, to maintain your balance as the vehicle through which the creative energy flows.
5. Know your 'anchors': creative projects have a way of drawing you in so deeply that it is possible to get lost in the 'story' unless you have anchor points to keep you centred.
Over the years I have developed my own range of 'anchors' which support me to remain grounded and simultaneously connected to Source including: meditation, ashtanga yoga, nature, walking, journal writing, music, space, regular 'time out', and spa days to name just a few!
Ensure that you know what your 'anchors' are and make sure they are part of your regular everyday life. That way you can enjoy the ride to infinity and beyond... and find your way back again!