Between school and after-school activities, parents are often wrung up in a never ending cycle of work and play. It is hard to find pockets of creativity where kids can engage with their senses. Independently figuring out time where they can think, be bored, and create. This requires a little bit of work to set up the creative inspiration. How many times have you tried to answer, “I am bored, what can I do now?” And it’s true for adults too. So, here are some ideas and Seth Godin books to help.
Tenets of Sustainable Creative Inspiration
We all go through an observation and shipping/writing/creating phase. The impetus of beginning or restarting creative projects can be hard.
Godin proclaims, what we all know, but don’t always want to believe:
- Creative writing blocks are a myth: It’s practice. Motivation doesn’t create action. It’s the other way round.
- Authenticity is a trap: The only authentic thing is a tantrum. Non-toddlers aka the rest of us, need to focus on consistently showing up with intention.
- Sustaining a community: Godin says, you need 1,000 people who support to be able to live off your creative work. You also need to be very specific in who that community is. BUT, you don’t need to make money off your creativity. It can be a hobby or service. There is no reason to put pressure on every activity. But a community usually keeps you motivated.
The reason we like Godin’s hypotheses is because he doesn’t define creative by a couple of job titles. We are all creators, problem solvers, leaders who are trying to make things better by building a new path. And our children can be these leaders too. It can be their job but it can also be something they enjoy for twenty minutes. Now let that sink in.
How do you act on your creative inspiration?
“The only choice we have is to begin. And the only place to begin is where we are. Simply begin. But begin.”
― Seth Godin, The Practice: Shipping Creative Work
Creating shareable work, requires deep generosity in the process of building it – to sustain the passion. But also because generosity toward oneself affords us the ability to be courageous and create trust for shipping it out to the world. And if done consistently, and thoughtfully, the community rewards creative work with engagement, and attention.
“Persistent, consistent, and frequent stories, delivered to an aligned audience, will earn attention, trust, and action.”
― Seth Godin, This Is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See
We often underestimate the power and discipline of being generous, especially toward ourselves. So, when you are building or rebuilding a creative space think about it. Stories can help and encourage storytellers who are making a difference, no matter their ages.
Finding a space for your creative inspiration
We are practicing our creative muscles by building Bento. It allows us to give writing prompts to kids who work with us throughout the year as reporters. Children can also take Bento home and try testing out their knowledge, drawing, writing using our prompts in their own time. It doesn’t always need to be shared with the world, but it can help build a practice space for creative inspiration. If you are a grown up interested in writing, submit to Bento here.
Where will you begin today?
