I Need Space
In order to best tap into my own creativity, it’s incredibly helpful to have space in several ways and for several reasons.
It’s beneficial to have some alone time, a space where I’m away from other people. It’s optimal to have a physical space, like a studio, to create and store creative tools. There is also the idea of giving myself space, as in freedom, to make mistakes, experiment, and have silly ideas.
Having space away from other people helps me to sort out all the other voices, fads, ideas, and styles in the world so I can better hear my own. I’m an empath, meaning I pick up other people’s feeling and energy which can alter my own. Having alone time allows me to feel my own inner inklings more clearly. I don’t need a studio for this, I can have alone time during a walk, sitting on my couch or even driving in the car.
A physical space like a studio or designated room for art is not necessary. In fact, when I started making stained glass art my creative area was a square piece of wood I set on the floor to use as my work bench then stored under my bed.
If you are able to have a room or studio, it’s a delicious privilege! I now have a studio in my home so I have easy access to tools, art-friendly work surfaces, and the space to leave creations sit unfinished until I can get to them again without having to put everything away after each session. It’s super convenient and keeps my flow running smoothly.
It wasn’t a quick remodel for me to have a studio. I was single and living in an apartment in California when I reevaluated what I wanted the next season of life to look like (spoiler alert: it involved having a studio in my home and creating art for a living). I began to put my attention, money and focus towards bringing those things to life. The next big steps were moving from California to my hometown in the Midwest and then buying a small home. It took about four years to get to the art-studio-in-my-home portion of my dream life.
The moral of that story is to use what space you have available while you move towards what you want.
Freedom of the mind is an inside job and it’s essential for creativity. By definition, creativity is bringing something into the world that didn’t exist before. It’s hard to create something new with a closed mind or being scared to make a mistake. With an open mind, a mind free to explore just to see what happens, creativity can flow more naturally. Giving yourself unedited freedom to follow your curiosities is a space rich with creative potential.
Don’t be afraid to claim some space - alone-time, a location and mental freedom - for your creativity. You are worth it!
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Creating makes me feel alive. I want you to experience that same vibrancy!
