creative purpose in life

[JoeyRas]

Hi, I'm new around here, so hi everyone,

I've been having thoughts about what I feel I should be working towards in my life and those thoughts are conflicting somewhat with what I'm doing.
I'm hoping that by sharing them here I can get some direction and tangibility.

I'm 23, and happy with most of the areas of my life. My career is going fine, as I'm studying for a course which I'm interested in and passionate about, although I have some problems with procrastination and depression.
I have a fantastic girlfriend who I strongly feel could be my life partner & I have a plentiful social life. I'm fit, have my health & am training in a martial art.

There's just one thing... I want to be expressing myself creatively and I'm not sure where to start.

I've tried a lot of outlets. Drawing lessons, piano lessons, the literature & creative writing units at my Uni, I even started a jam band with a few friends with myself on drums. I've never stuck at anything.

Part-time work and study take up a lot of my energy and I feel like I need something to look forward to... I need to be building something, or creating something, working up to something.

I've tried lots of avenues which could be considered a creative avenue, like my training, activism, student politics, relationships.

I don't want all my energy to go into my career or my relationships because I don't think that's going to give me all I need.

What I'm saying is, I want. nay, NEED... to do something big, like record an album, or write a book, or make a movie, and it needs to be separate from my career and I want it to be a public thing and to possibly make money from it. But I'm a little hesitant to get started, partially because I don't know how & partially because I'm afraid I'll sabotage myself or I'm not "ready" yet.

Well thanks for reading, I'm hoping to hear from you, if you feel like you've been in this situation or if you have something to share.

[RonSouther]

. I don't want all my energy to go into my career or my relationshipsbecause I don't think that's going to give me all I need.

That speaks for me. :-)

I got an energy to share....its a burden to carry it. I'm starting some projects that will be my outlet.

[OptimistPrime]

I've often felt a desire to accomplish Some Big Creative Project, like making a movie or a website or a book, but it's never really panned out for me. I generally find that the only thing that I'm good at being creative about is improving myself and (to a lesser extent) helping others. However, I think that maybe that's because personal development is my calling, whereas writing, film-making, and web design are not.

So I guess my only advice would be to look into your heart and see whether doing a Big Project is really something you feel like doing, or if it's merely something that you think would be awesome. There are a lot of things that seem awesome in our imaginations, but doing them in reality doesn't have the same vibe. Like, say, piloting a fighter jet. Doing that in my imagination can be pretty awesome, but the reality of that job would probably be unpleasant as hell for me, since I can't even stand the mild G-forces of a carnival ride.

[DANDUNGAN]

have you ever had the experience of looking up at the clock and saying to yourself, "Jeeze, where did the time go?"

If so, what were you doing right before that?

[Traikan]

When it comes to finding creative outlets, sometimes the specifics can be really important. I messed with composing music for about 3 years, making... 7 or 8 songs in that time, just for kicks. It was okay, but a lot of work. Nothing I made was any good and I didn't feel inspired to get better. Still, I kept with it halfheartedly.

Then I tried making a soundtrack for something and the hours flew by. (Dandungan has a great point about using that to find what you love) It's been nearly a year and a half since then, I've made about 100 songs in that time and improved astronomically. Feels like a lifetime ago.

If you keep coming back to something but it isn't quite what you're looking for, try some permutations in the specifics!

[OptimistPrime]

Originally Posted by Traikan

If you keep coming back to something but it isn't quite what you're looking for, try some permutations in the specifics!

Yes, absolutely. I heartily second this advice.

[JoeyRas]

Originally Posted by DANDUNGAN

have you ever had the experience of looking up at the clock and saying to yourself, "Jeeze, where did the time go?"

If so, what were you doing right before that?

Thanks Dandungan... uhhh.. trolling youtube? That line of thought is a great help though. I've struggled through a lot of stuff just like Traikan. Playing the piano after you put it down and pick it up again feels like such a sisyphean task. A lot of things are amazingly therapeutic mental exercises and horrible, horrible real life exercises.

I think it's easy to lose yourself building something together with some other people and I love working on a group project where others are encouraging (& relying on) you. But... as a solo thing? (which is what I think I'm aiming for)
Uhmm I spent a while keeping a dream log, and journals, and it was always a sporadic, fun thing. Then when I counted all the little pieces of paper where I was writing the dreams, it was enough to fill up a file binder, and I did a wordcount of my journal and it was thousands and thousands of words.

So to answer your question Dandungan, writing.

So I think i'll give that a try.
Thanks

[DANDUNGAN]

You're welcome, JoeyRas.

Please be encouraged to develop creativity. You didn't ask, but here's another idea.

Remember back as far as you can to something you really enjoyed--the younger the better.


I used this memory to find a creative outlet:

When I was a kid, sometimes when we were coming home from church in colorado springs, my sister, Kathy and I would notice--from the back seat of the '49 chevy--a carnival in the park. We called it "the rides."

We'd say, "Dad, did you see that?" He would act like he didn't see it, and then later, he'd take us over there.

My favorite ride was these little boats that went around and around in a circular tub of water. Kathy and I really enjoyed riding those boats. The water seemed so deep, and I had some fear getting into the boat. But once we were going, we really had fun.

So a few years ago, I moved to california and voluteered on the tall ship, Pilgrim of Newport. I've had several adventures on that ship.

I guess I should write them down.

[Lifeisamazing]

Great thread! I thought about this topic a lot a few weeks ago, because I think that creative (those that require deep thinking) activities are most fun.

My favorite creative activities are:
- Writing blog articles
- Designing a website
- Designing training programs
- Discussing personal development topics
- Designing group projects

What other creative activities are there to choose from anyway?

[nothuman]

I'm going to take the other appoach. Sit still for a while. What you are describing is a common place desire to fill our lives up in order to stroke our egos and to fill the void. The dog chasing its own tail syndrome can manifest subtley as a creative urge and build to torment you through your life by not allowing you any peace and always on your back to find the 'next thing'.
I am not saying this is your plight but at 23 you may want to take stock and have a look. It could
have a huge bearing on the quality of your life.

[AllTogetherNow]

i'm not sure i have anything concrete to add in the form of 'advice' to this inquiry - but perhaps my little story will be relatable in some way....

i've always been musically and artistically inclined, family tells me that from age 3 i was reaching for the piano keys ..... all my life i did musical/artistic/creative 'stuff' in various forms; and although i knew i had talent for it (as opposed to a learned 'skill' - i mean natural ability) i never really knew exactly how or where to focus specifically. i did many many different 'things', some even at a professional level, and was very good at some of them - yet still, i knew there was something greater, i just never focused or did anything special with any of it.

somehow 20 years passed without me doing very much at all musically -- then one day i stumbled upon a practice session of a musical group, of a musical style i had ADORED all my life as a listener. something took me over and i just KNEW i could do this thing and play this instrument, so i boldly sort of 'butted in' to this band, and made it known i wanted to learn.

that was 7 years ago when i was 44, and from then up to now it's like i've been looking at that proverbial clock saying "where DID the time go?". everything else sort of fell away, my life became immersion in learning the instrument, studying it's history, as well as the culture/history of the country it comes from - even while at work, doing the dishes, taking care of the business of life... in the background context, 24/7 my life is about that. Now i'm a practicing/professional musician in this style, and i feel like ALL of my previous music education, performance, and all my dabbling in many different creative/artistic/musical endeavors was all gaining experience in preparation for THIS. it is my life passion,and i never knew it til i was 44. But when i began it, i felt like i was 16 again, and still do - the joy and delight it brings is indescribable. I know people must think i'm a serious nutcase when i come off the stage, high as a kite, declaring 'That was better than sex!" - but it's true.

so i guess all that is to say - even if you're unsure or 'feel like' you're not progressing in finding your creative passion, whether you're actively pursuing something or just passively wondering what it might be - it's there, latent, and will spring upon you when the moment is right. Keep doing what you're doing, imho it is all part of the process of getting you there.

[ApexLifestyleDesign]

First, I want to congratulate you for wanting to do something with your creative energy! It's incredible to recognize this urgency and want to act on it.

I recommend you really get to know yourself first and discover what it is you most want to do, why you want to do it, and what are your strengths for accomplishing it, and weaknesses that may hinder progress. Once you have come to some conclusion about who you are and what you most want to do creatively, you can write a vision statement. If you don't write it down, it's harder to make it a reality.

Then, set monthly, weekly, daily goals to help you make your vision a reality. By setting these smaller goals, you are making it easier to achieve your overall vision and be sure to celebrate successes along the way!

Good luck. For some ideas on soul-searching questions to ask yourself, check out this blog: Know Yourself - Apex Lifestyle Design

[Reneee]

Originally Posted by AllTogetherNow

i'm not sure i have anything concrete to add in the form of 'advice' to this inquiry - but perhaps my little story will be relatable in some way....

i've always been musically and artistically inclined, family tells me that from age 3 i was reaching for the piano keys ..... all my life i did musical/artistic/creative 'stuff' in various forms; and although i knew i had talent for it (as opposed to a learned 'skill' - i mean natural ability) i never really knew exactly how or where to focus specifically. i did many many different 'things', some even at a professional level, and was very good at some of them - yet still, i knew there was something greater, i just never focused or did anything special with any of it.

somehow 20 years passed without me doing very much at all musically -- then one day i stumbled upon a practice session of a musical group, of a musical style i had ADORED all my life as a listener. something took me over and i just KNEW i could do this thing and play this instrument, so i boldly sort of 'butted in' to this band, and made it known i wanted to learn.

that was 7 years ago when i was 44, and from then up to now it's like i've been looking at that proverbial clock saying "where DID the time go?". everything else sort of fell away, my life became immersion in learning the instrument, studying it's history, as well as the culture/history of the country it comes from - even while at work, doing the dishes, taking care of the business of life... in the background context, 24/7 my life is about that. Now i'm a practicing/professional musician in this style, and i feel like ALL of my previous music education, performance, and all my dabbling in many different creative/artistic/musical endeavors was all gaining experience in preparation for THIS. it is my life passion,and i never knew it til i was 44. But when i began it, i felt like i was 16 again, and still do - the joy and delight it brings is indescribable. I know people must think i'm a serious nutcase when i come off the stage, high as a kite, declaring 'That was better than sex!" - but it's true.

so i guess all that is to say - even if you're unsure or 'feel like' you're not progressing in finding your creative passion, whether you're actively pursuing something or just passively wondering what it might be - it's there, latent, and will spring upon you when the moment is right. Keep doing what you're doing, imho it is all part of the process of getting you there.

I love reading your reponses Alltogethernow. I understand where you are coming from Joey, I too, am in the same boat. I'm not sure what I'm passionate about, I know there is something stirring up inside of me, but not sure what that is yet. Good luck with finding your passion.