I changed my editorial calendar to do a quick series on creativity. In my last post, I suggested 15 minutes a day to exercise your creative muscles. In this post, I’m going to share the way anger can fuel your creativity.
It’s a Full Moon, right?
Last Thursday, I hit my breaking point. Nothing seemed to go right. I wasn’t making progress on projects. I felt blah and directionless. I received four personal phone calls from people who talked at me, not to me, without taking a breath.
I went to bed annoyed and woke up completely ticked off on Friday. I decided to give in and allow myself to be mad for the entire weekend.
I turned off my phone. I cranked up the classical music. I went to the quiet protection of an art gallery. I also allowed myself to eat as much candy and drink as much wine as I wanted.
I’m re-working my way through Walking in This World, The Practical Art of Creativity by Julia Cameron. When I sat down to read on Friday, I did an exercise aptly named “Use Anger as Fuel.” I wrote down 50 things I was angry about. If the page were longer, I’m sure I could’ve kept going and hit 100 easily. I was really P.O.’d!
The Calm After the Storm
Saturday, I created a space near a window so I can sketch at a small writing desk. I started cleaning my studio (a.k.a. junk room), got paperwork in order while watching a movie, and reorganized my office to encourage more creativity. I even had an “aha” moment and made a much-needed decision on my business that will, long-term, allow my creativity to flourish.
All that to say: Once I let go and surrendered to the anger, everything fell into place. After I was done being mad, I moved forward creatively without resistance. It was easy.
I don’t get really angry too often, but apparently I needed this little temper tantrum. It felt so good to be naughty.
In the midst of being an angry, petulant child, I rediscovered my creativity.
What about you? Have you ever had an experience like that? How did you feel afterward?
If you feel creatively stifled, maybe you should set aside a couple of hours alone to get completely P.O.’d and make your list of 50 things you’re angry about. The release is delicious.
I came by your post through Journaling Saves. I also did the page of fifty things that make me angry and I could only go as high as five and that was pushing it. I’m not sure if I’m just out of touch with my feelings or just don’t really have that many things to be mad at. Of course there’s the nuclear fallout going on in Japan and the loss of rights in Wisconsin but I think Julia wanted personal things. Yep, I just don’t have them. I lead a very happy life and have worked out my grievances and forgave things as they come up. Thanks for this post. It reminds me of others where one can use that anger to fuel your creativity.
By: clarbojahn on March 2011
at 3:20 pm
Thanks for your comments. I’ve done this exercise in the past and, like you, only had a few things on the list. This time, I had a ton and it was fantastic to release all of them at once! The ebb and flow of life offers us times of great happiness and contentment, and other times that push us to change (hopefully, for the better). I appreciate your insight. I hope you’re enjoying this journey via Journaling Saves/Cameron’s Walking in this World. Thanks for reading!
By: Michelle I. Zavala on March 2011
at 10:07 pm
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By: Adventures in Creativity | on March 2011
at 9:00 am