You don’t convince me when you try to convince yourself about your habits and routines being creative because you reorder, or focus, or boost, or carve out the time for spontaneity… These are great ideas that are implemented on occasion; and can never be a habit or a routine for the creative, future-minded voices that I am reading here.

The only way that a habit can be truly effective, or for a creative routine to actually work for people like us, is if there is enough meaning in it to continue; if there are challenges and variations daily (which is enhanced when measured but this is difficult to maintain consistently for us, unless we are fascinated by the process); AND if it is all done in the name of fun, not for any goal or end in mind. If we had goals, it stresses us out because we are perfection and competence freaks, inhibiting any beginnings that would normally be reasonable.

Admit it–the only time you have ever been consistently progressing in a creative and effective manner was when you were fascinated by the process without judgment, proud of yourself just having fun, and interested in seeing where it will go (without a set goal that scares you into inaction).

Open-ended actions like this don’t hold as much value for habit-oriented, goal setters that are the majority of population. Most of self-help today are geared for them. But these open-ended, fun beginnings (not goals that are dead endings) are the key to success for the creative-minded visionaries who see nothing but possibilities.

And those mundane routines can certainly stand for a little shaking up, if only to bring more joy and aliveness into your daily life.

For example, I just washed a few dishes while standing on one leg. Why? Just for fun! I got the mundane thing done, but added a pinch of creativity. That’s the sort of shaking that Brad Keeney recommends to live with more of that childlike joy and creativity.

I offer classes and workshops in intuitive painting which teaches you a way to approach creativity by entering into a dynamic relationship with the creative process without concern for the outcome or finished product.

When I facilitate my classes I always begin with a ritual of some sort. Sometimes it’s moving to music, sometimes breathing or lighting candles or setting some kind of intention to enter into creative space. ( Yes, I DO live in northern California). But it does work. It allows people to unhook the left brain, let go of their daily mundane concerns and enter into more of an altered state which is the doorway into creative trance. Because of the ritual they ultimately have a much greater sense of creative flow, authenticity, timelessness, getting out of their own way, and just an all around deeper, richer creative experience.

Ah well…. you teach what you most need to learn! Thanks for the reminder. And I am just loving this series!!!!

I find that it’s not about going on that walk with the intention of figuring out the problem. Or finding inspiration. It’s just about getting out. Getting away. Just like that.

All rituals need to re-examined periodically, either methodically (e.g., January 1, on your birthday, et al) or spontaneously (“Aaack! I just realized that I’m in a rut!”).

Sometimes I don’t even need to change my routine rituals — I just reorder them and they feel “new”.

Mundane routines are done by many. Creative rituals are done by you.

For me the trick is to routinely leave a lot of wide open white space to be spontaneous – scheduled spontaneity seems such an oxymoron but it is what works for me. (for example this morning I was doing some core planning and a thanksgiving article came flying at me, so I wrote it without hesitation. Why? Because I have engineered my morning time to give me that freedom to act).

Life and creativity are in the open spaces, but we need to clear a path for them – and for me – generate the sense of control and security that comes with routine – however much of an illusion it really is.

James, I agree 100% in seizing the words, there is no better feeling.

Carving the time for it is what has made it possible.

Thanks Mark for putting to words what I never could quite put my finger on :0)