We’ve reached the final day of the Creative Freedom Challenge – thank you so much for spending this time with me. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have!
For our final exercise, I invite you to take up your proper title as a creative.
Have you been telling people that you “want to be” a writer? That you’d “like to be” an artist?
We all fall into that trap, because we’ve been led to believe that being a writer or an artist is some magical thing that has to be specially bestowed on the chosen ones. But I’m going to let you into a secret – anyone who writes (recreationally, rather than just work emails and such), but anyone who writes for enjoyment is a writer. Anyone who makes art is an artist. That’s all there is to it. To qualify, you just have to be putting something down on paper. That’s it, congratulations, you’ve earned your title.
When you say “I want to be a writer”, you’re telling your brain that this is a hard thing to achieve, that it’s distant from you, and you make it seem very intimidating and something that doesn’t quite fit you yet. It makes it hard to show up to a practice.
When you say “I am a writer”, showing up gets much easier – you are a writer, so writing is just something you do. You don’t have to agonise over it, you barely have to think about it. You just write.
I was in a class with the writer several years ago, and she talked about this fact that anyone who writes is a writer. At the same time, I was also reading James Clear’s Atomic Habits, and he talks about how, if you want to make something a habit, you need to make it part of your identity. These two ideas came together in my head and I thought, you know what, I’m going for it. So I changed my bio on social media to say “writer”, and started talking about myself as a writer. A few weeks later, I had an article published in a national newspaper. The first of many. A couple of months later, a publisher approached me and asked me to write a book!
Now, obviously just changing my bio wasn’t the only thing I did to make that happen, but I do think it contributed. I wasn’t holding back anymore, I was committed to my creative dreams.
Today, I’d like you to commit to your creative dreams. Commit to living a creative life YOUR WAY.
Take a look at today’s exercise, and claim your creative title.
And I wish you all the joy in the world for the life you’re about to embark on!
Worksheet
Write your creative title at the top of your page:
“I am a writer”
“I am an artist”
Whatever title resonates with you.
Then write a letter welcoming back your creative self. Or simply welcoming them, if they’ve not been freed before.
Let them know they are safe with you. Let them know you will support and honour them. Talk about the future you will have together. Say whatever is in your heart.
My dear creative soul, welcome home…
As always, you’re welcome to share anything that you’d like to.
If you’re ready to get stuck into designing a creative practice that suits your unique self, then my Divergent Creatives course is currently open for registration.
In this course, we dive deep into understanding your unique brain so that we can find an approach to creativity that will work well for you. We work on releasing limiting beliefs, and helping you set sustainable and joyful goals.
As a thank you for taking part in this challenge, I’d love to offer you 20% off the full price.
Not only that, but if you sign up before the end of the day on Tuesday 20th May, I will also send you a FREE ebook copy of my book, Creativity Is Your Self-Care. This collection of 52 creative therapy exercises - one for every week of the year - will enable you to build a regular practice of creative self-care.
“Pay what you can” options are also available for Divergent Creatives. Just email me at allegra@creativefix.net for details, or if you have any questions whatsoever.
Registration closes on 26th May, and spaces are limited.
Share this post