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This is what I like to call the “hard work” model. We live in a world that valorizes this idea of work. We talk about work using phrases like, “keep your nose to the grindstone” and “no pain, no gain.” We spend endless hours working, ending each day drained and depleted.
But here’s another way to think about work. I call it work as “effortless creation.” The idea is simple. Think about times when you’ve done your best work. Think about when and where you came up with your most innovative ideas. My guess is that it didn’t happen while staring into your computer at the end of a 12-hour workday.
Our most creative ideas come in unexpected moments. You might be in the shower, on a walk, or driving when that brilliant new idea hits you. In these moments, creation is effortless. There’s no strain, no effort, no real work. You can do in a matter of hours or even minutes what it might take weeks to do through “hard work.”
So the key question is: how can we experience more moments of “effortless creation”? Since they come unannounced, these moments can’t be planned or forced. But here are a few things you can do to make their appearance more likely:
- Stop Working Hard
I realize this sounds crazy. But, if you spend your days working too hard, you drain yourself of creative energy. When this happens, a number of problems emerge. The first is that you become easily overwhelmed and exhausted. This leaves you without the energy and enthusiasm to pursue innovative new ideas. The second is that you become lost in the details of your work. After ten hours spent working on a report, book chapter, or project, you lose your ability to see the big picture. Take a break and refresh your mind occasionally each day. - Do Nothing
This may also sound crazy. But, some of the latest discoveries in the field of neuroscience show that when we experience states like boredom, the brain shifts to a “default state.” In this state, our perception changes. Time slows down, we daydream more, and, most important, we open ourselves to new and more creative ways of thinking. This doesn’t mean that you should sit on your couch all day. But you might plan short periods for walking alone, sitting outside, or meditating to give yourself space for creative ideas to emerge. - Slow Down
Pace has a huge impact on the chances of creative moments arising. Our tendency is to go fast. We drive fast, rush through meals, and prize the idea of efficiency in the workplace. But the faster you go, the more you enter into the mental state of “hard work.” All this rush drowns out creative new solutions and ideas playing in the sub-conscious background. So one of the best ways to tap into “effortless creation” is simply to slow down. Eat more slowly, write more slowly, and email more slowly. The more you slow down the flow of life, the more you open yourself to unexpected new ideas and insights. - Record Your Genius
When your next great idea comes, go all out. Remember that you are experiencing a special state of consciousness. So allow yourself to follow the flow of inspiration. Write down everything that comes to mind. Be sure to capture the contents of your mind in this altered state of effortless creation. In a day, or even an hour, it may be gone.
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However, there are a lot of stupid mistakes that people make when it comes to trying to follow their passion. I made most of them and figured out what stands in the way of most people living the life they desire is their own internal fear and mind ghosts.
The good thing about this is that those processes can be changed, but it often won't be comfortable, so most people decide to stick with what's familiar, and you know where that path leads, don’t you?
Scan through these and let me know your thoughts. I think if you can avoid these, you will significantly reduce the amount of time it takes for you to live the life you truly desire.
- Perfection
The number one thing is perfection. There will (almost) never be a time where the stars align and everything will be perfect in your life so that you can go after your passion.
Now, you don't have to quit your job and jump straight into following your passion. You can take things one step at a time, and see how everything develops.
Wanting things to be perfect is just another excuse for putting off your dreams. - Overwhelm
Being overwhelmed is extremely normal when you're beginning to follow your passion. I'd even go as far as to say that if you're not overwhelmed, you aren't pushing yourself enough. So when you find yourself being overwhelmed, it's just a sign that you are heading in the right direction.
Whenever we learn something new, there will be a time where it doesn't make sense, and it seems like all hope is lost. After a while, the information will have been taken up by your brain, and everything will start making much more sense. - Non-Trusting
Your heart knows what your passion is and what your next step is. When you listen to your heart it just feels right when you find the path that's perfect for you.
Most people have forgotten how to follow their hearts, because they've been taught to be logical in school and shut out any hunches or intuitive messages. This doesn't mean that you have to be psychic or a superhero; it just means that you trust your own internal signals more. - Too Much Logic
One of the biggest obstacles to trusting your heart is your mind. Your mind craves logic, and it wants proof and guarantees that everything will work out. I'm sorry to say this, but there are no guarantees. The only way you will succeed is to be determined and know that you will get there if you don't give up.
This doesn't mean that you have to scrap the logical part of your mind, because it's extremely useful when used in the right circumstances. - Keep it Fun
Most of all, remember to enjoy the process. When you start doing something new, it's easy to swim in fear and wallow in overwhelm. But the truth of the matter is that you are here to have experiences and explore the possibilities that life has to offer you.
It won't all be a walk in the park, but that's good, because if it was easy, you would never grow as fast as you could. - Lone Wolf
Find people that are on the same path as you, and also find a coach or someone that can mentor you and help you avoid the most common mistakes that most people make.
It's tough to go about this on your own, because as you may have already realized, there are a lot of obstacles that will pop up on your path.
Having someone there to support you and help you will significantly improve your chances of success. In the end, however, if there’s a way you can guarantee your success, it is to be determined. - Determination
Like I mentioned above, determination is what will get you through the tough times. And that is exactly why it's so important that you find something that you're extremely passionate about. Find something that you would do for free.
When you do this, you will be determined to keep going even when things seem to be going in the wrong direction. You also have to remember that when you are heading towards a goal, you may feel like you're off course most of time. But like an airplane, you will tweak your course as necessary, and you will end up in the right destination as long as you keep moving forward.
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35-year-old Liu Bolin, from Shandong, China, manages to camouflage
himself in any surroundings, no matter how difficult they might be.
One single photo takes up to 10 hours to prepare – Liu uses himself as a blank canvas, and with a little help from an assistant, he paints his body to merge as seamlessly as possible with what is behind him. The results are incredible – sometimes passers-by don’t even realize he is around until he moves.
The talented Liu Bolin says his art is a protest against the actions of the Government, who shut down his art studio in 2005 and persecutes artists. It’s about not fitting into modern society. Despite problems with Chinese authorities, Liu’s works are appreciated at an international level.
One single photo takes up to 10 hours to prepare – Liu uses himself as a blank canvas, and with a little help from an assistant, he paints his body to merge as seamlessly as possible with what is behind him. The results are incredible – sometimes passers-by don’t even realize he is around until he moves.
The talented Liu Bolin says his art is a protest against the actions of the Government, who shut down his art studio in 2005 and persecutes artists. It’s about not fitting into modern society. Despite problems with Chinese authorities, Liu’s works are appreciated at an international level.
