Kick-Ass Creativity: Part One Energy

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy,
a quickening, that is translated through you into
action, and because there is only one of you in all
time, this expression is unique.
And if you block it, it will never exist through any
other medium and will be lost.
- Martha Graham (1894-1991)

I think this is a great timing for me to be covering this chapter, because it is a good time for me to reread it. After not getting the job for a lead teacher, I have been unsure on where to focus my energy. I felt like I had no drive for anything because for awhile it was wishing that I could have that job. Now that's gone I need a goal to reach for, something to focus my energy to. I thought I could just do that with school, but I found out it's going to take me a few more years to graduate. I need something more short-term to focus my energy on.

This upset is also affecting my artwork. When creating my mind roams through my thoughts. So when I make a mistake or when something disappointing happens, that's all I can think about and it drains my energy. Are energy comes and goes. Sometimes the creative flow just comes and sometimes it's plugged. We have all felt that. I started on new collages tonight, hoping I can get my creative energy flow back.

In the book Kick-Ass Creativity, it states that we all are no stranger to creative energy. It can flow, it can slow, it can come in large amounts of caffeine or come in a relationship. Mine is obviously at a slow. But what is energy? It is a powerful, transformative force. But it can also be defined as

1. as a fuel supply (as a source of vitality and vigor), 2. as an aid in converting ideas to form ( that which helps us adapt inspiration into a piece of art), and 3. as an entity (as in "may the force be with you").

We live with all different sources of energy. We learn to live with them and manage them. And that energy connects us all. We are drawn to people with similar energy as yourself. Whether its the energy someone left at a table in a resturant that you ask to sit at (we are even attracted to residual energy left behind). Or I believe I feed off other's energy. Whenever I'm at work when all the children are there I get so much accomplish or when my nephews are at my house. I feed off the energy surrounding these children and able to do as much as them (or at least I think).

This chapter explaining energy is amazing. I can never do it justice in the little bit I have summazied. So far it is my favorite chapter of the book. Reading it makes me feel re-energized in myself and my creative abilities. Once I'm done with this book, it will be given to my sister. She is writing a book and she goes through all the creative energies, the ups and downs. I know she can benefit from this and I can and any other creative soul.