The Fertile Unknown

Creativity Engages Both the Intuitive Mind and the Rational Mind

Michelle James ©2023

Letting Visions Take Root Before Exposing Them to the Elements

The new year is a popular time for people to think about what they want to create next. In the early stages of a new visions, it's a great idea to protect what's emerging (visions, ideas, plans) for the first few weeks especially. That means not sharing it with anyone, or being incredibly selective with who you share it with. Most people are well meaning, and would want to support you, but may not fully understand what you are attempting to do.

Some many not know how to hold that space for you without trying to fill it up with their concerns, ideas, advice, of fears during that delicate stage. They may not see the path laid out from where you are to where you want to be, and fear that it's unrealistic. They may ask premature questions, like, "How are you going to make that happen?" before that has unfolded within you. Sometimes they'lll try to give advice based on what worked for them, which may or many not be the way it works for you. Or, sometimes it can trigger their own fears, and they inadvertently express that in their concerns. Sometimes they may get into an evaluation state, and find the reasons they think it won't work.

There are so many ways well-meaning supportive friends and family members, and others, could contribute to an uprooting of what's emerging before you feel solid enough in it. So pick your confidantes and advisors carefully in the beginning, or hold off sharing until you feel more rooted in what's emerging. Once you are more rooted, and feel strong in your commitment  - with discernment and resilience - then sharing it can be extremely helpful. That's when other's input and ideas can expand and refine - and yes-and - what you are doing.

There's no one right way as to when to share it, what parts to share, and who to share it with, so use your best judgement. Trust your intuitive sense. Pay attention to your internal feedback. If talking with someone puts you into a defensive or  flight, fight, or freeze mode, they may not be the best person, or it may not be the best time. Not everyone closest to you may know how to be with what you are bringing in before it's more tangible. But if talking about it with someone helps you feel more inspired, passionate, alive, and excited about it, then go for it.

It is important in the early stages of a new emergence that isn't yet fully formed to protect it as you learn more about it, shape it, and cultivate it out into the world. Then, after it has roots it can withstand most anything. With all of that said, the good news is that if it is yours to do, no matter what anyone else says or does, you can of course still do it. And sometimes adversity actually helps strengthen your resolve. Most of the time, it's just easier after you feel stronger in it within yourself.

Michelle James ©2023

3 Ways to Move Forward in the New Year

The new year can offer a pause point at the intersection of what was, what is, and what's emerging. It's a great time to reflect on what's working  release what no longer serves, and start to generate - or at least be available for - something new. Life is like a play, and sometimes it feels disheveling to be in the in between space - the set change between scenes, when they are dismantling the old set, but the new one is not yet set up and we are in the dark. I call this emergence space because it is the fertile ripe space where the old no longer has hold, and the new one is about to emerge but it is still unclear.

In emergence space, we can align with what's calling to emerge by first acknowledging and accepting the things we can not change so they don't become a creative block. A creative block can show up in sneaky ways: recycling old stories or resentments, waiting for something or someone to be different, needing other's approval for validation, blaming others or outside forces, engaging irrelevant distractions, of focusing mainly on what's not working, among a host of other reasons to not follow what is most generative and alive. Then we are more free to move forward.

3 Ways to Move Forward with Choice in the New Year

1. Become aware of where to put your energy, and what to put it toward. That includes things like becoming conscious of the times you legitimately need others feedback and the times you don't; taking time to discover and follow the energy that really lights you up from within yourself; and releasing what no longer has energy for you. It is a waste of time to try to breathe life into a dead log. There is not enough space to create the new patterns, new visions and new stories if you are spinning old stories that were true at one time, but no longer are relevant or serve you. It is like preforming a scene over and over again instead of moving to the next scene in the play. What can you remove from the stage?

2. Start to create the vision of what forward looks like - what is in your new stage, set, and scene...in other words, What is most alive for you? What is the world you want to build? What calls to you? What do you want instead what was? Who are the characters you want to include? What does the setting look like? What scenes would feel good? You are worth the time and attention this takes. The more types of creativity you use to engage the process (writing, drawing, moving, acting it out, etc.), the more detailed and expansive the emerging vision becomes.

3. Stay in an ongoing dialogue with yourself as you go. As you do this, chances are you'll meet up with certain resistances: fears, energies, feelings, old (comfortable, familiar) habits and stories. These parts of ourselves tend to surface and get the loudest when we are about to break through into something new. Ask yourself questions like, "Do I have influence over this?" If yes, step into an inspired action - whatever you need to do. If no, ask yourself, "What am I being invited to let go of?" and go through what it takes to let it go. Just becoming aware of it may be enough. Or you may need to do a "release ritual" in the moment to let it go. Or, if deeply entrenched, you may need extra external support. This is nonlinear dance that includes stepping up and letting go at different times.

If we can't change something in that process, we can learn to accept it as a creative constraint, and choose to let go of it taking up our mental/emotional bandwidth. We then can use that bandwidth and energy to mobilize our internal and external resources toward what we actually would like to create. Creative empowerment is not about never feeling resistance (which is a natural part of the creative process) to be able to move forward, but acknowledging it, sending if off stage or making it a secondary characters with much less stage time, and moving forward anyway. It's giving your aliveness the lead role.

Claim the director role of your own life play in 2023 - and play with it. Let what is alive be the main character this coming year. Give the expansive emergence more stage time than you give the constraints, and let them slip into the background. We may not be able to choose everything that happens to us, but we can choose which part is given the lead role on your unique stage, no matter what's happening off stage.

The world needs what only you have to offer. Cheers to a peaceful, loving, and generative 2023! May you express more of your amazing uniqueness...and enjoy the journey.

Michelle James ©2023