Balancing Life and Creativity

Answering questions: How do you balance life and creativity?

This is always an interesting topic to think about, and a difficult one to talk about. I think many in the creative world struggle with balance as much as we struggle with mental space. I realized that the type of creative that I am, whether for better or for worse, means that I spend a bit of time in my head. I don't mean just talking to myself; I mean actual legitimate time, as if I'm taking building blocks and building a skyscraper of a story or an anatomical creation of a character. My intention here is not to sound boastful, but it's to show you the chaotic nature that a lot of creators have to balance.

Some flaws come with this kind of creativity as well, which reflect on relationships, work, and even parenting. I've been told many times throughout the years that I'm good with words, and that might sound like bragging to some people. When it comes to relationships, with the deeper discussions or any kind of disagreement, it can appear as if I am saying something just because it sounds good, or it sounds like it's the right thing to say at the moment. Realizing that it can be perceived that way is important for any creator to consider when they're having a conversation that matters with another person.

Creators are often persuasive, even if it's unintentional, which means we also are a bit hard-headed. Learning how to shut that off in the moments that it needs to be is also important, and the easiest way around that is to step up your listening skills. I found one thing I have to do as a creative person is to force meditate. No, this has nothing to do with Star Wars, though I would be a big fan of that as well, but it has more to do with shutting up. It's important to take those moments where you can stop your brain long enough to just ride the silence. It's extremely difficult, if I'm being honest, and there are still times that I struggle with it. What I've found is that having a healthy prayer life has helped me discover a better meditation, and it gives me a different focal point with a desire to hear rather than to think.

Now let's talk about time management. This is so difficult, and everyone that I know struggles with it. Even if you're not trying to be a creative person, balancing time between work, family, obligations, and housekeeping can be daunting. The irony of it all is that if any of those elements crumbles, even a little bit, suddenly you just don't feel like creating. To be transparent, there was a long time at the end of last year, and sometimes before that, when I wasn't feeling creative. A huge element was battling financially, which made it feel like I was wasting time. What I learned in those times is that if the mood ever struck, or a thought ever occurred to be creative, do it in that moment. You might slip back into the non-creative feeling real soon.

Creativity should never trump real-life or authentic experiences. The greatest possible gift we can have on this planet is a life that is pleasing to God while helping others as we raise our families. You can take any elements out you would like, but my point remains: never neglect your family so that you can be creative. I'm blessed to have a wonderfully supportive woman who loves me and finds my creativity attractive. I wish that each of you had a person who does the same for you. Within that, there's an understanding that sometimes I might daze out, and I might get caught up in working on any kind of particular project. But I also make sure she knows she is more important than those things that I'm working on and that I am thankful to have her blessing to do any of them.

I can't end this without talking about finances. For anyone who's in the creative field, like comic books, you understand as a writer that you're also the bank. Typically, you will have to pay out of pocket for every element of the creation that you would like to share with the world. Often, we will take that and put it on a crowdfunding page, and then we hope and pray that we will recover some of that cost. No one that I know is rich enough to tell every story they want to tell. It has taken me a long time, but I am trying harder and harder to be a good steward of creativity and finance. It's hard in a commodified world to not just dish out every story we want to tell, to charge up credit cards, and just pay for all of it to get it out there. I'm finally beginning to realize that not everything has to be done right now. It’s a hard pill to swallow as a creator because we get so excited about every new idea. What if we were able to focus enough to take a step back and look at the medium we are telling a story in, analyze what's working and what's not working, then determine if we should hold on to the project for a while or if we should go ahead and put it out?

Unfortunately, the Renaissance is dead, and arts and creativity are not valued at the same level that they used to be. The market has changed to the point that it is creatively accessible to all, but unfortunately, that also means that it cheapens the craft. With that lower bar being set, it also means that it's harder to find a fan base, and people are more critical and more skeptical now than ever before. This is all the more reason to hold on to our ideas until the timing is really right, rather than throwing them out there and hoping for the best.

I hope that there's some encouragement to be found in this discussion. I believe that creativity is important and that it is an outlet that many need. If you are a consumer of creativity, I thank you, know that you are valued, and you are loved by anyone whose creativity you consume. If you are a creator, thank you, and you are valued. We are created to be creative.

As always,

Do better. Be better.