Happiest While Creating?

Use your creativity to cope, because it's the one thing no one can take from you.

On Craft…

Here’s the underlying question I face whenever I’m confronted with the page: What do I desire to make today? The fundamental question there, “What do I desire?” is something I’ve struggled with throughout my life. I have a lot of pent up guilt—I’m a Jew, for those new here—and so indulging myself never comes easily. That said, when it comes to coping through creativity, I’ve found it’s essential to remember your craft is so deeply rooted in who you are. No one can take that from you. My point being: If you find yourself happiest while creating, create en masse. Make “shitty” art. Make “great” art. Just make. Sweat it out. Get to it. You’ll feel better.

There’s a lot to be upset about every day. This year, 2020, is not the year anyone thought it would be. Each new day brings incredible challenges unlike anything anyone could have imagined, but our desires have not gotten the memo. If you’re anything like me, you’re still aching to make things and create art. If you’re anything like me, you’ve realized creating things is the only way to cope with the shit show of 2020.

Personally, I’ve come to terms with the fact I am unable to be idle. It does not bring me peace the same way making something brings me fulfillment and helps me self-soothe. Yes, I’m happiest while I’m creating, but at the same time, I’m paralyzed with fear. There is so much going on and going wrong, it feels very difficult to make things, but I want to make them all the time. Do I force myself? How do I unlock my creative drive? There are so many competing thoughts hurled at us at all times, it feels impossible to simply make things without being disturbed.

The trick, for me, in coping through creativity is making it an essential part of my day. Yes, creativity is fluid and should be treated with care in that regard, but if you set up boundaries around your creativity, it will proliferate naturally and you’ll be able to step into that happy place. I wake up early as possible so I can get quiet hours to write and brainstorm. I count brainstorming as making things, too. It’s important to open up your definition of “making” just as it is to open up your definition of “writing.” Every creative second is an opportunity to feel better, and there’s no reason to belittle yourself.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be comfortable sitting in stillness, but I am sure that shutting off my phone, turning off all notifications, and hiding from Twitter to spend some time with my plethora of pages—digital and tangible—is the only way I’ll make it through the year. I’m happiest when I’m creating, and I’m even happier when I’m creating on my own terms. I get to set the terms. I am the fire. No one can take fire from a person who nurtures their fire every day. We will not be robbed of our passion by this damned year. Stay creative, generate your peace. Set boundaries and use them to box yourself into the thing that brings you the most joy.