The Creative Pursuit: A Personal Lens to Focus Life's Energy

I have given some extended thought to what I think the elements are in the Creative Pursuit. For me, this is a model, a construct that works for me currently, that can be discussed and talked to, and can be grown and adapted over time. It's been helpful to me because when things go wrong in my Artistic Endeavor and Creative Pursuit, I can reach back to these elements and perhaps figure out the Causes and Effects. As you can observe from the list of elements, they become very personal and indicative of the Self. In not any particular order, I propose that the elements of the Creative Pursuit are:

• Beliefs
• Values
• Vision
• Drive
• Exploration and Experimentation
• Serendipity
• Encouragement
• Inspiration
• Awareness of one's Comfort Zone (Gifts, Talents, Knowledge, Ability, Skills, Experience, Habits)
• Stretching Outside One's Comfort Zone
• Freedom and Openness
• Increasing Affect, Feeling, and Emotion
• Introspection
• Leveraging Outside Influences
• Mentors and Coaches
• Competition
• Unlock Restraints
• Minimize Stifles
• Minimize Fear
• Manage Critiques
• The Forge
• The Crucible
• The Fire

The bottom line is identify and utilize these resources and approaches to focus one's Life Force and Energy into expressing Self in creating the Original Artifact. The Creative Pursuit is not unlike finding and developing a personal Lens that collects and intensifies the necessary energy to steer towards a particular intended result to make the Artistic Endeavor most productive. If one's Self energy is not focused or is dissipated, a less satisfactory result occurs in the Artistic Endeavor or doesn't occur at all.

Perhaps, Dear Reader, this "model" of elements will be helpful to evaluate either your own Creative Pursuit supporting your Artistic Endeavor or the observations you have of other Artist's results or potential. How each of us pours these elements into our process and manages them determines the type of Lens we have for our own use at any given time.  We can individually compare and contrast to observe effectiveness.

There is more to be exposited for many of these elements, of course, but I share them today as a seed to be planted.