Trust the Process

1. Trust the inherent intelligence of the creative process

When everything seems as if it is hopeless and going nowhere . . . trust the process.

Unseen intelligence. There is an intelligence at work in every creative situation, a primary carrier of creation that operates beyond ego control. If we trust this force and follow its natural movement, it will astound us with its ability to navigate problems and even transform mistakes into creative assets. This magic cannot be forced or fully understood in advance.

Embrace unpredictability. The creative path is labyrinthine, unpredictable, and often paradoxical. It thrives on inspiration and affirmation, not rigid direction. True insights and destinations often emerge unexpectedly, revealing themselves "on the way" rather than through preconceived plans.

Beyond control. The process often finds its way to where you need to be, a destination you never could have known in advance. This requires a mix of surrender and initiative, letting go of inhibitions while cultivating responsiveness to what is taking shape in the immediate situation.

2. Your license to create is universal and irrevocable

A person’s license to create is irrevocable, and it opens to every corner of daily life.

Inherent capacity. Everyone possesses an inherent license to create, a freedom often restricted by cultural notions that creativity is reserved for an anointed few. From children's art, we see that this capacity is universal, not limited by "talent" or specialized training.

Art in daily life. Creative expression extends far beyond traditional art forms like painting or poetry, permeating every aspect of daily life. We are all creators, whether arranging a kitchen counter, managing a desk, or engaging in conversation. The challenge is to recognize and appreciate this pervasive creative spirit.

Beyond stereotypes. Our society often puts us in boxes, leading us to believe we can only do one thing. However, creative individuals often thrive by engaging in multiple disciplines, finding that different activities enrich and support one another. The true measure of creativity lies in interest and commitment, not just innate talent.

3. Embrace uncertainty and the unknown with "negative capability"

Training in creativity requires the ability to relax in periods of uncertainty and to trust that the creative intelligence will find its way.

Relax into the unknown. The education of imagination demands sustained encounters with uncertainty, a state John Keats called "negative capability." This means being able to relax and persist when there is no clear end in sight, trusting that the creative intelligence will ultimately find its way.

Resistance as fuel. Initial feelings of paralysis, fear, or intimidation are common and often necessary phases of the creative process. These "cocoons" of past traumas or self-doubt can be transformed into focused energy, leading to breakthroughs if one stays with the situation.

Group intelligence. Trusting the process also applies to group dynamics, where a collective intelligence can emerge if supported and allowed to move naturally. This requires an atmosphere of respect and empathy, enabling individuals to risk new expressions and progress through conflict to resolution.

4. Mistakes and distortions are valuable harbingers of new ideas

Errors are harbingers of original ideas because they introduce new directions for expression.

Unintended discoveries. Mistakes are not failures but unexpected deviations that can lead to novel and productive expressions. They break the continuity of intention, presenting something unforeseen that can be creatively utilized.

Building on errors. The anger or frustration aroused by mistakes can be channeled into new bursts of creative energy, encouraging bolder actions or the destruction of unproductive patterns. This alchemical process turns perceived negatives into agents of change and liberation.

Embrace the "wrong." Intentional distortion, exaggeration, or even handicapping a routine faculty (like using the non-dominant hand) can increase spontaneity and reveal unique expressive qualities. This approach, championed by artists like Picasso and the Surrealists, values the fresh, unintended mark over exact likeness.

5. Emanation: Creation flows from action, not just pre-planning

The thoughts come from the process of expression.

Start working. Nothing truly novel or significant comes through purely planned activity; it emerges "unwatched, unintended, daimonically." Creation is a process of emanation, where ideas and forms take shape through the act of doing, through the interaction with materials and gestures.

Continuous evolution. Creative work is an ongoing process of accretion and deletion, where the final form takes shape through an interplay of additions and removals. The experienced creator understands the importance of sustained engagement, allowing new forms to emerge gradually.

Series and flow. Working in a series, especially with small, manageable pieces, encourages fluidity and allows images to birth one another. This approach fosters a sense of plenitude and momentum, making it easier to overcome individual difficulties and maintain a continuous creative flow.

6. The "blank page" is an open stage, a pregnant space

Emptiness can be re-visioned as an openness to the forces and opportunities moving through a particular situation.

Beyond vacuity. The empty canvas or blank page, often a source of dread, can be reframed as a pregnant space, a capacious silence ready for creative forces to take shape. It's an opportunity to plunge into new territory without knowing the outcome.

Action over planning. Ideas and insights emerge through the process of writing, painting, or performing, not just before it. The act of doing gets the "juices flowing," transforming apathy or sluggishness into focused energy.

Performance as meditation. Approaching the blank space as an "open stage" for performance art, even alone, can cultivate presence and allow expressions to emerge spontaneously. Simple actions, designated time, and a supportive "witness" (even the space itself) intensify contemplation and reveal the significance of every gesture.

7. Reframing: Change your perspective to unlock potential

What disturbs you the most may have the most to offer in your creative expression.

Re-vision the world. The creative person constantly re-visions the world, seeing everything as subject to reconstruction and renewal. This "re" factor—resurrecting, reshaping, regenerating—is key to overcoming rigid thinking and welcoming alternative ideas.

Power in discontents. The most provocative stimuli for reframing are often our discontents and perceived weaknesses. By accepting and engaging these negative forces, we can alchemize them into sources of transformation and powerful expression.

Flexible outlook. Experimenting with daily habits, changing vantage points (like observing a rock from different angles), or even making "shrines" for annoyances helps cultivate flexibility. This practice allows us to see ourselves and our experiences with less rigidity, expanding our range of expression and understanding.

8. Overcome creative blocks through action and varied stimuli

Start working right now, from this place, with the feelings you have at the moment.

Action is medicine. Creative blocks, often occurring before a project or during a hiatus, are best overcome by immediate action. Don't wait for inspiration; simply begin, trusting that quality will emerge from successive phases of work.

Whole-body initiation. Instead of the "control tower" concept where the mind dictates, envision the entire body as the initiator of creation. Engaging muscles, senses, and varied modalities (like drumming or free movement) can loosen inhibitions and stimulate the mind.

External catalysts. Blocks can be circumvented by shifting to different creative areas, changing environments, or seeking external inspiration from others. Simple changes in interpersonal or physical surroundings can recharge creative energies and provide new perspectives.

9. Everyday life and environment are rich sources for creation

The most accessible way of becoming more involved with the creative process is revisioning what you already do.

Domestic creativity. Creative practice is not confined to studios; it thrives in the home and workplace. Our daily actions—arranging a desk, gardening, cooking—are expressions of an aesthetic consciousness, often overlooked but rich with potential.

Workplace as studio. The workplace, often seen as a place of conformity, can be transformed into a wellspring for creative expression. By reframing routine tasks as creative processes and introducing art activities, organizations can enhance productivity and foster imagination.

Nature's influence. Physical environments profoundly affect us, generating vital energy. Engaging with nature, whether through spontaneous writing in different spaces or making art with natural materials, deepens our connection to the creative forces of the earth and expands our expressive range.

10. Practice and repetition are essential for instinctive creation

A complicated expressive gesture cannot be broken down into a lesson plan. It can only be learned through practice and repetition, with the goal of reaching a point when it happens instinctively.

Effortless flow. Like a muscle, the creative process needs consistent exercise to function effortlessly. Practice enables us to reach a state where we "act and not act" simultaneously, allowing the creative force to move through us instinctively, much like Duke Ellington "dreaming" at the piano.

Familiar themes. Repetition of familiar themes or gestures, like a child drawing the same boat repeatedly, is not a sign of stagnation but a channel for endless variations. Each iteration regenerates the image, revealing new qualities and deepening the artist's relationship with their "psychic landscape."

Source is life. The source of creation is life itself, an unending river that flows and returns, constantly renewing itself. By responding to life's charges—events, people, memories—with our emotional expression, we give something back to the source, fostering an ongoing cycle of inspiration and creation.

11. Cultivate a "stranger's" perspective to see anew

When I become a stranger, I am eclipsed by the expressiveness of the new environment and touched by it.

Unfamiliar eyes. To make the familiar unfamiliar, imagine yourself as a stranger in your own home or routine. This foreign perspective heightens sensitivity to surroundings, revealing overlooked details and fostering a deeper appreciation for the "spirits and graces" of everyday places and things.

Detachment and intimacy. Travel to distant places or experimenting with different media helps establish a necessary distance from habitual ways of doing things. This detachment paradoxically makes us more present and allows for a fresh infusion into our creative chemistry, revealing new qualities upon return.

Handicapping for insight. Deliberately altering your approach, such as painting with your non-dominant hand or holding tools in unfamiliar ways, can break ingrained patterns. This loss of control stimulates new faculties, revealing primal gestures and unique expressive qualities that expand your artistic repertoire.

12. Criticism is a perfecting force, a necessary companion

Sooner or later every creator realizes that “getting it right” is the heart of the work.

Internal guide. Criticism, when embraced as a companion rather than a judge, is a perfecting force within artistic expression. It's the internal voice sensing what needs "a little more of this," "less of that," or a complete restart, guiding the process toward refinement and craft.

Process and product. The creative process is inseparable from its products, which serve as offspring and resting places. While spontaneous expression is valued, the desire to "get it right" is innate to the artwork itself, striving to perfect its form and message.

Receiving feedback. Effective criticism, whether internal or external, requires an environment of respect, sincerity, and a genuine concern for improvement. It's about offering another perspective to help the artist see their work more completely, even if it's difficult to hear, ultimately contributing to the total body of work.