NON-ATTACHMENT IN ART-MAKING
/
So often, the struggle we’re having with our work is rooted in the fact that we are deeply attached to the outcome – invested, hooked-in and unable to free ourselves.
What this does is inhibit us from taking risks in our work – and risk-taking is essential because it is where the magic happens. It’s where we grow and strengthen our creative voice as we explore what is possible and discover surprising layers to our expression.
There are several distinct stages to the creative process and many of us find certain stages more challenging than others. Some of us find it difficult to start our creative project or painting, while others love starting but struggle with finishing a piece, or get stuck at some point along the way – frozen, experiencing inertia and frustration.
But what is common to each of these challenges is attachment. When we’re attached we are allowing our emotions to lead us to places that don’t necessarily serve us, and we’re not truly present to the process we are engaged in – the making of the work. When we’re thinking about what the work needs to become for us to feel satisfied with our investment of time and energy we lose the opportunity that the creative process is offering us. Our emotions have hijacked us.
This tendency to attach to the outcome, rather than remain invested in the process, is a completely natural part of creative work. We will likely bump up against it at some point. Once we accept that, we can learn to work with it when it arrives.
Being in tune with our work this way also allows us to know when a piece is finished and when we need to let go of what we have so that it can become what it needs to be.
Practicing healthy detachment helps us make better work and find more ease in the process as well. We are fully invested in our creative work, but not attached to a certain result.
What do you know about how you meet the various stages of the creative process? Where do you flow and where do you get stalled?
Are you aware of being attached to outcomes or results in your creative work? What do you notice about your thoughts and your energy at those times?
How do you feel when outcomes aren’t emerging, or aren’t achieved?
What would you have to tell yourself in order to be fully invested and present for your creative work, but not attached to the results?
Is there any part of the idea of non-attachment that feels unsettling to you? If so, can you explore why that might be?
This short version blog post is a part of my Mindset Moment series, an accompanying edition to my bi-monthly blog post. My intention for these Mindset Moments is to speak to some of the common challenges artists face with their creative work, and how a mindset shift can make a difference.
They are short reads, with a suggestion or writing prompt that you can work with…as well as an invitation to join in the conversation, sharing your experience and insights.
Join the conversation by leaving a comment under this blog post, or on my social media posts. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, wherever you find me.
Please subscribe to my mailing list if you’d like to receive these posts, along with my longer bi-montly blog post and newsletter.