Comfort Kills Creativity

Some believe, the best thing that can happen is that their worst fears come true. For the artist that means getting comfortable. Why? Because having comfort kills creativity. If the creativity isn’t flowing you don’t make art. Or write. Or sculpt. Or sew. Etc.

In fact, when we are uncomfortable, it can force us to become more innovative and ultimately stronger than ever.

Which is the essence of the saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

If that’s the case then it can be said that, “Comfort is the sibling of creative inertia.”

Or something like that. You get my point.

female painter looking over shoulder, find your creativity

Now let’s take a closer look at this rotten sibling. When it comes to creating as an artist, (or any creative pursuit) comfort kills creativity. One of the biggest culprits to this point is the consumption of art. It keeps you from fully engaging in actually making art.

The consumption is a passive pursuit and the making of art is active…

Now, some passive intake can be informative and inspiring. Taking in other people’s art is an excellent thing to do. Just don’t spend more time doing that than making your own stuff.

You know you’re not balancing your consumption of art and making of your art when;

When musicians go to concert after concert, yet don’t create a single song during that time – that’s a problem.
When painters spend hours in galleries or travel over seas to experience the master works up close and don’t make a single painting – that’s a problem.
When writers read books without writing a single chapter of their own – that’s a problem.

Comfort kills creativity by leading us down a path to consumption which leads to creative inertia and as artists and creative types, we’ve got to avoid this trap.

This means developing a steely, unyielding discipline toward the craft of your art.

No one is going to push you to do it because no one needs what you are creating.

Unlike, food, utilitarian clothing and housing, no one needs art to survive.

However, art is the only thing that progresses a society. Look at the societies around the world which have the most prosperous citizenry. They will have a thriving arts and entertainment industry.

The 80-20 Rule

Now, before this starts to feel like an enormous amount of pressure, let’s take a look at the 80-20 rule. In general, I have found that to be true. It’s the 20% of hyper concentrated effort that propels the other 80% and keeps everything rolling along.

Which means, if you are going to beat the sibling of creative inertia you’ve got to discipline yourself daily for at least 20% of you time.

So, if you want to go to the summer concerts, make sure you are writing songs at the same time.

If you are perusing galleries make sure you are creating and finishing off your own paintings.

If you read, make sure you are spending time writing and honing your craft. An inspired poem, a short story, another chapter in your novel. Those must be done first before the consuming commences.

We know comfort kills creativity so to let yourself off the hook when it comes to creating is breaking a law of physics. ‘A body in motion tends to stay in motion.’

and instead you fall into the inertia trap, then consider yourself a pretender. A poser. A wannabe. Ouch. I know. There is no short cut to self mastery.

The only way around the sibling of consumption and inertia is if you are inspired to do your own work immediately afterwards. So watch, experience and then create.

In fact, the best way to keep the sibling of inertia away is to allow yourself a certain amount of consumption time and then get creating. It needs to flow directly into your creative process. If you are an artist, you create. An artist is a lifestyle, it’s not just a few hours a week. As an artist everything you do is in service of your creative process. Literally everything.

Creation is life itself.

As an artist you cannot do what other people do. Memories will influence your creative output and if you consume and remember what other people consume and remember you will think like other people think. The result will be that you end up creating ordinary, uninspired art.

That’s not what artist’s do. Artist’s are the ones on the fringe. If not physically, then definitely psychologically. Historically, it’s often artists that have challenged the status quo and shifted it.

You must have your own POV. It’s one of the most valuable assets you have.

So, go ahead and beat up the brother (or sister of comfort and creative inertia).

They are stealing your dream and your life. Take action on your creative pursuit daily. Then more action and more.

Remember to focus while you do this and it will bring about the most important action of all.