Self-Discipline & Creativity

As you can see I am not very self-disciplined when it comes to my blog, actually I am not very disciplined about much when it comes to my own personal projects unless it is for someone else and/or has a due date. I usually operate from my emotional side and I envy everyone who is able to apply self-discipline in their everyday living. Yesterday, this subject came up at the dinner table; Michel is convinced that if you are disciplined than you can achieve greater creativity. I am not saying that he is wrong, but I believe it is not that simple, there are so many factors to consider; ideally he would be right, but how many of us have the perfect balance of creativity and self-discipline?

At this time in my life I am probably at a medium peak of self-discipline, meaning I am probably applying more of it now than any other time thus far. Still, I know it is not nearly enough and that I can implement more of it. Creativity is the easy part it seems to come from nowhere and everywhere. I am told that if I were really passionate about painting I would paint everyday, I am passionate, but this is where it gets tricky; when I paint I forget about everything else and I can go on for hours alone in my bubble, however, when I have to stop I am heartbroken; usually it is because I either have to attend too some mundane activities that either have to be done or should be done, like going to work, eat, sleep, spend time with family and all that other stuff.

My husband says I should do a bit at the time and organise myself better, like I can turn on and off my creative switch without been affected. This process usually frustrates the hell out of me! I am still trying to figure this out, how to turn the switch on and off without the negative feelings attached to the off side, I figured it has to be a matter of perception. What do you think?

This is where I struggle with all of this, I want to be a full time artist but I don’t want to starve while doing it, it might have been ok at twenty, however, now is a different story; especially since I have created a life of obligations, and therefore, I can not get off the merry go round to indulge in creativity at least not full time. I should not be complaining, but I will indulge.

What is my point in all of this? Well, I guess what I am expressing is the need to understand my capacity to balance my creativity with self-discipline along with marrying my rational brain with the emotional side of it. While I am painting I am in the moment, it is like opening the passageway to the creative flow. However, when I stop, my body stops but my brain keeps running until it crash lands into a brick wall. It is bit like getting high and then hitting a down. If I paint at night and force myself to stop to go to bed, I can’t sleep for hours because the flood gates of ideas are open, I probably should get up instead of just lying in bed while being bombarded with colours and ideas, but I force myself to stay in bed hoping that I will eventually fall asleep, otherwise I fear it will turn into a vicious cycle. The transition time is difficult; the off switch seems to suffer a malfunction, something like a delay factored in without control. I know you will tell me that I should meditate. So, if it is that simple why don’t I do it? Could it be my lack of self-discipline or self-control?

How does one acquire self-discipline, is it something you are taught, something you mimic from watching your parents? Or is it something you are born with? Is it a cause and effect? How do you master the art of self-discipline? Does it have to do with will power? Is it about how much you want something? Is it about motivation?

Life is a series of doors that open and closes at random it is about making the right choices for our lives. Somehow, you have to find emotional well being in order to find the balance in life. Knowing oneself is really the key to improvement and empowerment. But even knowing thyself may not be enough especially if you made a mistake in your personal analysis, because what you think you are you will be.Does this make any sense? Now I am confused...

What does all this have to do with creativity and self-discipline? Everything, because if you trap yourself into a corner it doesn’t matter how much creativity you have, you will be frustrated until you find the self-discipline or will power to guide yourself out of the trap. And this is where I am at, working on self-discipline so I can create without frustration and move out of the corner!

Here are some thoughts to ponder on:


Education Of The Will – By Jules Payot

Summary notes, taken many years ago, from an old English version of Jules Payot’s book “Education of The Will.” By L. B. Beattie

• Ideas must be colored with passion in order to influence Will.

• The enemies of Will are distaste of effort – lack of persistence – sensuality, apathy, idleness, and laziness.

• Laziness abores any definite direction. Strong Wills have a definite chief aim. Will power comes from thinking ones own thoughts.

• Deep happiness comes form well regulated activity. The Will loves thoughts covered with feeling – emotions – color – dynamics.

• The art of thinking is to organize and classify.

• We must turn words into living images.

• Action, by itself, with no plan or direction, is as powerless as inaction.

• Lack of time may be traced to indefinite ideas about what is to be accomplished.

• Work well done is renewing – energy creating.

• Walking is conducive to creative work.

• To be able to bare pain is one of the highest forms of Will. Painful exercise develops Will. (self-discipline)

• Lazy people miss the joys of rest after hard work.

• Laziness is perpetual letting go of self.

• The Lazy, hypnotized individual can be seen walking around in a fog of habit.

• We lack not in abundance of methods, we lack in choosing one and sticking with it.

• Pleasure may be a feeling of dominance over self; a superabundance of energy, a feeling of something perfect – when we produce more power than we can consume

I really would like your comments on this one!