You Grow and Change or Shrink and Stagnate

This applies to your art, too.

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Change is the one and only constant in the Universe. It cannot be denied, avoided, ignored, or stopped. It can, will, and does happen. Whether glacially slow or lightning fast, change is inevitable.

People fear change. This is what causes ideas and practices of fundamentalism and reactionaryism to grow and thrive. Fear of change and nostalgia for what was – often with a lot of bias and attached Pollyanaism – create logjams and bottlenecks that can do some really weird shit to the world.

You have little to no control of change in the world. There is nothing you can do when it comes to all the people, places, and things outside of you. When change happens, you get to choose how you respond to it, if at all.

It’s so very easy to place your focus outside of yourself. Hell, you’re often encouraged to do just that. However, the reality is that you can’t do anything with or for what is outside of you. Because of the societal insistence on looking so strongly at the world without, the world within gets disregarded, shunted to the side, and even ignored.

And that’s the problem. Because the world within is what you have any control over. Who, what, where, how, and why you are on every level is yours to choose. That’s where you get to choose to grow and change or shrink and stagnate.

This is especially important for artists to keep in mind. Your art also grows and changes or shrinks and stagnates. And that’s your choice to make.

The creative process changes

Artists of every stripe take part in the creative process. What that looks like for them varies depending on their art, if they are a hobbyist or professional, if they work better at one time of day or night over another, and so on. The creative process changes because change is the one and only constant in the Universe.

I’ve been writing fiction since I was 9 years old. What I produced at age 9 is very different from what I created at age 13, or age 17, or in my twenties. When I transitioned from aspiring author to author and got my first professional edit, my process changed drastically. Now, producing multiple books a year, my creative process continually evolves.

If you look at the greats, many embraced change. Picasso comes to mind. He has different periods of his work reflecting the phases he went through, and all of them hold brilliance. You can see how various authors change and grow as they write in different voices, like Paulo Coelho.

Sure, you can do the same thing again and again and again. When you do this, however, you deny the opportunity to grow and change and set yourself up to shrink and stagnate. Change is inevitable both within and without.

Choosing to embrace change comes with its own challenges. That’s because how you grow, and what your process looks like along the way, will differ from almost everyone else’s journey.

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There is no One True Way to grow and change

There is nothing wrong with being influenced by outside sources. I’m an avid reader of sci-fi from other indie-authors. I’ve read some truly excellent stories, met fantastic and fascinating characters, been to unique places, and learned new approaches that have impacted my craft.

Because change is inevitable, choosing to work with it or mold it gives you a modicum of control. This only applies to you and your life, however. You cannot alter change outside of your inner self, save things about your outer self.

What change looks like is different from person to person, situation to situation, art to art, etc. Hence, there is no One True Way because you are not the same as me, him, her, them, or anyone else. If you are a creative, what your process looks like might be similar to someone else – but it’s still wholly unique to you.

The choice to grow and change or shrink and stagnate often sneaks up on you or surprises you. The way our world works, you probably live far more subconsciously than you would likely care to, without realizing it.

If you do not choose to grow and change you shrink and stagnate. That, in turn, leads to living in fear. People who live in fear make choices and decisions that are frequently against their best interests, and then they wonder what the hell happened.

Artists tend to influence others to grow and change, because to do your art requires growth and change. Recognizing, acknowledging, and knowing this, you can be more consciously aware of it and mindfully choose change to better your art, your work, yourself, and your life overall.

Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you every week, please consider this: How are you inspired and empowered to be your own creator, whatever form that takes?

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