How to regain your creative energy with the 3 R’s. Refocus, Refresh, Restore.
I had full intention of writing this post days ago. But then “schtuff” happened. Schtuff, like… oh ya know, laundry, emails, errands, and yada yada yada. I found myself wanting to pack up and leave again to escape the norm. My creative energy had quickly faded by Monday afternoon. I had jumped back into the rat race of life. Yep, even coming off a weekend high at Lindsay’s Style and Branding Workshop.
But…
Oh those little dots ….. those dots are literally a PAUSE to THINK and STOP before proceeding.
But today …. I am ….. pausing…..stopping….reprioritizing in order TO REGAIN Creativity energy. That energy that follows freely as soon as we allow (or force) ourselves to stop. To focus on what’s right in front of us. To breath. To LIVE in the moment. To see beauty in the mess (of life).
(Photo curtsey of Lindsay PoY)
Yes, I’m ready to regain that kind of creative ENERGY!
Side note, and another pause…. That picture above is actually from this past week’s workshop. Lindsay stopped to take a picture of me focusing in on a shot of my cake. My messy, crazy, sloppy, disorganized, created with love layered cake. The funny thing is this cake and this moment is so perfect for this topic. This “messy” cake and moment is so much like life. Yes, all those layers take work and are appreciated despite their imperfection. Sorry, Corny Cotterness slipped in.
Okay, where was I? Oh yes, CREATIVE ENERGY! Pause button. Refocus.
I will tell you my three R’s of REGAINING CREATIVE ENERGY. I would have given you a top 5 ways but that felt too organized and ruined my creative flow, so let’s go with the R’s. Capeesh?
HOW TO REGAIN CREATIVE ENERGY WITH THESE 3 R’S
REFOCUS (and recapture).
I through in the words recapture too and I’ll explain that in a minute. You see, as mentioned above, I attended Lindsay’s PoY Style and Branding workshop last week. Ya’ll, I hadn’t left the house in month’s due to my surgery. I was antsy and in big need of an outing.
My husband came with me to Minneapolis, he was my body guard. Just kidding. He was there to help me carry things (still a few weeks left of healing), and to be honest, we just needed to get away. To take the focus off all the the work and instead REFOCUS on what was right in front us. … US!
I also saw this as a chance to refocus on WHY I started Cotter Crunch (the brand and the person behind it) and to be surrounded by AMAZING people. Um, yes, mission accomplished.
Lindsay’s workshop left me feeling more energized and refocused. It helped me to reTHINK what I want to portray to my readers, what I want represent as a entrepreneur, food blogger, nutritionist, friend, recipe developer, supporter, etc.
This past weekend also helped me RECAPTURE a little romance with my husband. Ooops, there I go again. Too much corniness. But really, don’t we all need that in our life? To be smitten with your significant other. To refocus on that relationship, the free spirited lovey dovey part. Yes, yes, yes! The time away with my husband (we stayed a few days after the workshop) was just plain fun and relaxing. Kinda like when were were dating, way back when. Haha!
Refocus and recapture those moments. It will give you so much energy and desire to live whole heartedly.
How to regain your creative energy – REFRESH.
Refresh. To regain creative energy we must refresh our minds, body, and soul.
For me that means taking time to not actually work, but instead REFRESH my creative joy.
For instance; I LOVE creating gluten free recipes, talking nerdy nutrition, food photography, and engaging with talented positive people. People who breathe life and positivity into us. Yes, that kind of refreshment. But I feel stuck and weighted down when it comes to trying to keep up with all the extras. Does that make sense?
I needed to take some time away from the “extra” work and refresh myself with the no pressure work. Lindsay’s workshop was just that. A true BREATH of fresh air. I learned, I practiced, and refreshed my creativity. All without having to measure the end “product” so to speak.
So I guess you could say, in order to regain creative energy, I refreshed my passion. And then dug right into it with a large spoon and true hunger.
Lastly, how to regain your creative energy with the 3 R’s. Refocus, Refresh, and ……
Restore
Restore what’s been depleted.
Restore by definition. To repair or renovate (a building, work of art, vehicle, etc.) so as to return it to its original condition
Is it your health, your relationships, your confidence? What is it that needs to be filled up and nourished back to WHOLE?
I’d say for me (us) it was almost all of the above. But you know what? That forced rest (post-op) not only restored my health, but it restored my relationship with my husband/family. A forced slow down will do that right? It helps us “refocus” on what is truly important. It allowed me to do less and be more. A season of self investment that paid off because of the love and support of others.
That was us 10 years ago. Like whoa…
So I’d like to conclude with this tip on how to regain your creative energy:
Those 3 R’s. Refocus, Refresh, Restore….
Will they really help you to regain your creative energy?
Yes!
Why?
Because over all, they make you more confident in yourself. If you are more confident in yourself and your God given abilities, then those creative road blocks are no longer road blocks. Nope, instead those road blocks are just opportunities to jump high up and over ….. WITH ENERGY!
Quotes to remember:
Busyness is a illness of the spirit – Eugene Peterson
But God is not about upward mobility so much as inward expansion – Alia
“If you’re having difficulty coming up with new ideas, then slow down. For me, slowing down has been a tremendous source of creativity. It has allowed me to open up — to know that there’s life under the earth and that I have to let it come through me in a new way. Creativity exists in the present moment. You can’t find it anywhere else.” -Natalie Goldberg –
Thanks to Kristin for that last quote from her slow blogging post.
Tell me, what ways do you regain your creative energy? This can be in all areas of life!
Cheers!
Corny Cotter
p.s
This post is replacing this month’s Gluten free meal plan. Why? Because sometimes we need to plan to not plan. Yep. That happened.
