Separation
On the creation of space and boundaries
Recently I listened to a podcast that recommended to separate out the processes of creating, editing and critiquing. While we are in creator mode we are inclined to become very involved with what it is we are creating. We can begin to develop all sorts of attachments to our work, which can make it difficult to remain fully aware of them. Much like how our attachments play out in everyday life but hopefully a little less emotionally intense to manage.
By separating out the processes in the creative act, we allow for more space to develop between us and the work we are doing. We can gain perspective and become less attached to the first initial draft. This then allows for more room to play and explore along all phases of creation to come.
For instance there was a piece that I was working on that no matter how much time I dedicated to editing just wasn’t coming out quite right. I then decided to leave it for 48 hours. When I came back to edit it, I quickly realised the problem. I had two strong ideas that didn’t exactly see eye to eye and were too difficult to integrate together if I wanted to keep my writing concise and clear. I could see that each idea deserved its own space to be explored without needing to be tied together. I separated them both back out and within a matter of minutes had edited them with ease.
This process can of course also be applied to all areas of life. In therapy, for example, the implementation of boundaries is something most people (myself included) explore and become more comfortable with, and in essence it is creating space within well-defined borders to explore life from a more stable place.
All in all through this cultivation of space in my own life, I am more able to stay in deeper connection with myself. From a more grounded base I have been able to expand my vision and perspective on things that once felt confining and definite in order to see more clearly what needs to stay and what needs to go.
I needed to hear this today <3