February 2023 - Lauren Lott

Creating something new: expectations vs reality.

Creating something new can be an exciting and daunting task. The idea of bringing something unique and innovative to the world is often filled with expectations of success and satisfaction. However, the reality of creating something new can be vastly different from what we envision.

Nothing I have ever created has turned out exactly like I planned. Whether it be a book, journal, blog post or writing retreat, all emerge into the world unlike how they start in my head. Not only does the end result look different, but the process, how they form and develop, always takes an unexpected route. Let me elaborate by sharing with you an expectation followed by the reality of what really went down.

creating something new.

Expectation: Creating something new is straightforward.

Reality: Creating something new is often complex and requires time, education, and resources.

For me, every journey to creation is filled with setbacks, failures, and uncertainties. Initial ideas change and evolve over time. I have to be willing to experiment, learn from mistakes, adapt to new information and risk appearing like an absolute fool.

Expectation: Creating something new will result in immediate success and recognition.

Reality: Creating something new does not guarantee success or recognition.

Every time I create something new, the response to it is gradual. I have learnt that success is determined by timing, market demand, competition, and luck. Every new thing I put out into the world requires me to have a long-term vision, perseverance, and a willingness to let others make it their own.

Expectation: Creating something new will bring immense satisfaction and fulfillment.

Reality: Creating new things can be emotionally taxing and challenging. It’s common for creators to experience self-doubt, anxiety, and stress during the process of bringing their creation to life.

During the creation process, I regularly feel pressure to meet personal expectations and external standards. I need to find a balance between passion and detachment, so I can passionately invest in what I am creating but not be defined by it. I experience creative block, crippling procrastination, dissatisfaction and frustration in my work.

Expectation: Creating something new is a solo endeavor.

Reality: Creating something new often requires collaboration and support from others.

Along the way I always seek feedback, advice, and guidance from trusted sources. I need to establish small teams with diverse perspectives, skills, and resources. Every book needs an editor, every journal needs cover design, every retreat needs supporters to help gather and serve those who attend, every blog post needs to be researched by reading the words of experts. In reality, nothing I have created would be here without others.

Expectation: Creating something new is a linear process.

Reality: Creating something new is a nonlinear and dynamic process.

There are twists and there are turns. I navigate uncertainty and ambiguity. I pivot, adjust my approach and continually tell myself ‘Be flexible Loz, flow with it’ until my ridged little fingers learnt to let go and trust.

And so it is with anyone who creates something new. It is a complex, emotionally taxing, non-linier collaboration. But boy oh boy is it worth it!

4 reasons why you are more creative than you think you are.

Often, I run into people who tell me they are not creative. This is usually in response to my own attempts to create something. They say things like, ‘I’m not artistic’, ‘I can’t write.’ or ‘I don’t have a creative bone in my body.’ Truthfully, I don’t believe any of them.

Creativity is not just for “creative” types. Everyone is creative. All of us have to solve problems, rely on our unique perspective, have the ability to make connections and are continually becoming different versions of ourselves.

creativity

You’re always solving problems.

Every day, you encounter a variety of problems that need solving, from small issues to larger, more complex challenges. When you find a solution to a problem, you are being creative. You are using your imagination and your skills to come up with an answer to a question.

Maybe you don’t think of it as being “creative,” but problem-solving requires a great deal of ingenuity. When was the last time you had to figure out a new way of doing something, or how to make the best of what you’ve got? For this mama, I need to solve problems on the daily! And if you really think about it, you will find that solving problems is part of your everyday life.

You have a unique perspective.

You might not value it, but no one else has lived your life or experienced the world in the same way that you have. Whether you love being who you are or wish you could walk in another person’s shoes, your perspective is a source of inspiration and creativity. Your experiences and insights are continually forming ideas which help you come up with new and innovative solutions.

The way you see the world, though it is limited, is nothing more than a springboard for the life you are creating. It identifies opportunities, gaps in the market and ways to navigate obstacles.

You can connect seemingly unrelated things.

One of the hallmarks of creativity is the ability to make connections between seemingly unrelated things. When you make connections between ideas, concepts, or experiences that don’t normally go together, you’re being creative; you’re using your imagination to see the world in a new and different way. This ability to connect disparate things can lead to new insights that you might not have thought of otherwise.

So when someone says, ‘I’m not creative’ they are denying how memory prompts certain emotions, how they apply knowledge and concepts from one field to another and how they have the ability to brainstorm to generate new ideas. I, in all my years, have never met a person who cannot do at least one of these things.

You’re constantly learning and becoming.

Learning new things sparks imagination. You might not realize it, but every time you read a book, take a course, or have a conversation with someone, you’re expanding your knowledge and your ability to think creatively. We become who we are becoming through what we read, what we listen to, how we spend our time and who we connect with. The creativity of others influences how we create our own lives.

always room to grow.

And so, my friend, if you don’t consider yourself a “creative” person, I say, ‘it’s time to rethink that label. It’s time to recognize the ways in which you are already creative, start to tap into that potential and develop your skills even further’.