Episode 3: Beyond Productivity: Nurturing the Creative Process

In Episode 3 of Spacious Creative, Cindy Ingram and Heather Doyle Fraser discuss how the creative process evolves over time, just as we evolve in our lives. For this reason, it is important to be present with your creative process even when inspiration feels absent—observe what is happening every day, notice how you feel, and what you accomplish so that you can begin to see not only the elements of your practice but also how it changes from day to day. 

If you think about your own creative process, do you recognize yourself as actively engaged or passively waiting for inspiration to strike? Sometimes it’s hard to identify where you fall, especially since each day feels different when you are creating. Heather and Cindy recognize how difficult this can be. They explore what an actively engaged participant looks like in the creative process with emphasis on: 

• The gradual, incremental nature of everyday creativity rather than relying solely on sudden bursts of inspiration.

• Personal experiences with creative projects and the journey of writing a book.

• Learning to enjoy the process of creation without rushing towards a finished product.

• Balancing dedication to the creative process while allowing time for our ideas to mature just as we mature as humans.

• The realization that creativity involves both daily compassionate commitment with occasional epiphanies.

• Comparison between authentic creative expression versus creating based on external expectations.

• Discussion on the duration and phases of creative projects, acknowledging that each project has its unique timeline.

• Challenges and rewards of maintaining a consistent creative practice over an extended period.

• The internal dynamics of feeling safe and nurturing creativity from within.

If your interest is piqued and you want more, Cindy and Heather are offering a program entitled, The Spacious Creative: Compassionate Process and Practice starting in September 2024. The six-week experiential program focuses on integrating compassion and internal safeness into your creative practice and process. 

Click here to learn more about the program and to register.