At the end of one of my Develop a Writing Ritual trial classes this week, we spoke about the challenge of prioritizing our creativity and how much it stings when we tell someone that we have made space in our lives to write, draw, dance (etc) and their first response is…

“What have you done with it?”

I’ve been reflecting on this conversation a lot since then. I’ve been thinking about how, when met with that question, we might feel pushed to defend our creative practice and make it seem valuable, worthy.

I’ve been wondering about the value of joy and curiosity.

Is my joy, is your joy, enough of a reason to make space for creative expression?

Regardless of where our creativity has lead us, could we say to that person, ‘it gives me joy to write, draw, dance’ without feeling like that answer makes us in some way inadequate?

It’s possible that question is coming from a place of insecurity. The asker may have their own yearning to be creative that they’re avoiding or numbing, thinking creativity MUST be accompanied by economic success.

Our answer may give them pause to reflect on why they think that way… perhaps even give them permission to approach the blank page again.

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I’ve been facilitating writing workshops for 3 years now, and this is NOT the first time this discomfort with making space for creativity has come up…

Over and over, folks have spoken about feeling guilty, feeling like they’re wasting time, they’re fooling themselves. While working as an assistant editor nearly 10 years ago, I was told by my boss that ‘only rich people had the luxury of making space to write.’ Whew!

I didn’t believe her then, and I believe her even less now.

How do we give ourselves permission to set aside time for creativity, for joyful self-expression? (Allowing where it could lead to soften for a while).

How do we start?

Julia Cameron, author of ‘The Artist’s Way‘, writes that we can start by acknowledging that it’s not so much that we don’t have time… it’s that we’re afraid. We’re afraid to make space for creativity because of all the buried debris that could come with it. Maybe dealing with that debris is both unavoidable and necessary.

After acknowledging that you’re afraid (what a simple but resonant word), what do you do next?

Well, you might start by carrying around a notebook, jotting down ideas throughout the day. You might start by making space to stretch, limbering up your body for creative movement. You might take your art supplies out of the closet and put them on the table, ready for use.

What I’ve been especially interested in recently is the power of ritual.

Twyla Tharp, author of ‘The Creative Habit‘, writes that “ritual clears the fog of self-doubt”. Setting aside a container and creating a ritual that warms you up for creative expression can be liberating.

A knowable shape to your practice can help soothe the fear of uncertainty that necessarily accompanies creativity.

What works for me, is a three part ritual. I begin by meditating for 5-15 minutes, and then I freewrite a page and a half in my journal. Once this is done, I’m feeling warmed up. I turn to my computer or my writing journal and I begin the process , to use Julia Cameron’s words again,

of “goofing off” creatively.

I take this goofing off very seriously. I set a timer and respect the container I’ve offered to myself. It brings me so much joy.

Maybe something like that could work for you?

For those interested in prioritizing their creativity, I’ve designed a 10-week Develop a Writing Ritual program that is based on the Artist’s Way. It includes 40 minutes of space each week to write, make art, create music, dance (whatever pulls you). You can learn more about it by going here.

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photo credit: Joel Eddington