The Creative Process: Silence & Space

Creativity always feels different for me during the first week of a new year.

Life is like a blank canvas: Full of potential, ready for yet to be realized and wondrous imaginings – a fresh start. 

So, what better time to build on the topic of Creative Process (read the first articles) then as we all stare down our multiple and metaphorical blank canvases for 2012?

I was recently on a coaching forum when a fellow coach known for his classes on basic coaching skills asked the forum to share those skills we thought needed emphasis in the coaching community. One respondent’s answer, in particular, caught my attention:*

"Silence and space around questions

(no matter how often it is discussed there is never enough).”

I don’t think you have to be to be a coach to understand – or to know why this hit me so profoundly.

Our society can be so cluttered. How desperate we sometimes are to fill up the spaces in our lives with stuff, noise and superficial connection. Our wants, our addictions, our often frenetic way of being. The running to here and to there; trying to do this or that. And quickly. The feeling of no “real” time. No time for ourselves; no time for each other. 

The pervasive loss of silence, space and time to ponder.

Creative process is the process of giving silence and space to questions. And I think the responding coach is right. No matter how often it’s discussed, we coaches (and all of us) neglect to offer enough: A deep enough silence or a long enough space around the questions we ask our clients, our friends, our families, our lovers and ourselves, for truth and beauty to emerge.

This is a new year. A blank canvas is before you. You, too, might be feeling the excitement, anticipation, even anxiety of your creative self, all fresh and clean; her or his eyes, ears and mind open to the magnificent and brilliant creations to come.

With silence and space, I’m asking: What do you want to create in 2012?

 

*Marion Franklin, MCC, Life Coach, Mentor, and Trainer

Comments

[Jeshaas]

I'd like to create some energy this year...some POSITIVE energy. To recreate the atmosphere that I wake up in, and carry throughout the day. Energy that has enough strength to not be forfeited, and even possibly be a bit inspirational....

I'd like to create some simple things too, like time to process and adequately reflect on what I am learning and who I am being.

and create and nurture relationships that share that and build on that...

and I think I'd also like to create some great writing too.

[Susan (Olson) Bishop of Unlocked Box]

Hi Jeshaas,

So these are the curses and luxuries of technology. I clicked publish on your comment from my iPhone and made a mental note to log in on my computer to write back - and you know the quality of my mental notes at times. Anyway ---

THANK YOU for sharing this. And WOW! I want to comment on the content of what you shared, but what I'm so drawn too (as always) is the sheer poetic flow of your words. You are truly a beautiful writer. I felt inspired all over again about my 2012 creations after reading your response initially and again now.

The subtle power of your last line, especially, lighted up my desire to write (poetry in particular, actually).

I feel that the great gift of sharing our visions and dreams is not only in the commitment and determination it reinforces in ourselves, but also in the visions and dreams of others our sharing sparks. Perhaps its the greater gift.

THANK YOU AGAIN. What is for certain is that when you create some writing this year, it will be, as you said, great.