a teaspoon of SpontaneiTea

I finished my morning meditation, opened my eyes and spotted a surfer bobbing around on his board, searching for a wave. Suddenly he layed down on his board, flat on his back. He seemed calm, free and unbothered about water he had been so intent on watching. Minutes later he shot up, caught sight of a potential wave, got on it and rode it in.


It reminded me of a lesson a copywriting teacher taught me years ago about the creative process. To birth out a good idea, gather info, do research and immerse yourself into it. During this stage, while your mind is soaking it all up, a change in gear happens. You might feel like giving up, or a block might surface or you may have got hold of an idea but are yet to lock it in. Then, procrastinate. Drop what you are doing (if you try push through it most often the body will steer you to pause, like in the form of distraction, such as suddenly wanting to check the weather or log into your facebook). Be spontaneous, do anything but work on your project. While it may seem like you are doing bubkas on your project, your subconscious will be using this time to churn over and digest what has been ingested. When bam! Out will birth your brilliant idea.

Whether this process takes months or minutes, when we create the space for rest and pause, eventually you will find yourself riding to the shore.

p.s. I was drinking a cup of coffee while pondering on this entry. Meanwhile Kalvin was trying to figure out how to get in the cup, he is after all partial to a hot delicious beverage. He tells me he’d been jumping and jumping, trying all sorts of ways to get inside. Then unbeknownst to me he sat in the teaspoon, feeling somewhat deflated and a bit defeated. When bam! I picked up the spoon, stirred my coffee and looked up to find a lil’ piglet surfing in the froth. I plucked him out as he was telling me how he just embodied the creative process. He thought this was hilarious and had a big snort laugh. He says how pig-cular that right when we surrender, that exact moment is an opportunity to detach from expectations, fears and doubts. Creating an opening for that which needs to flow in, be it a wave, an innovative idea or a soy flat white.

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© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2010.

Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.