This post and all the comments here… thank you all!! Intentionally choosing this way has certainly been a journey of uncertainty and faith, requiring courage everyday, and sometimes every minute(!). I am finding myself on a path that is not pre-scripted, a complete 180 from the one I was on. Choosing to walk away from a the conventional markers of success - title, corporate badge of honor/association, and the money - is a discomfort that I’ve also found starts to fade as the newfound energy from creative expression begins to reawaken the very reason I even found myself on the old path. Just create. It’s what I’ve been doing in this season of transition and surprisingly, I am also finding myself encountering more and more sojourners on this “off the beaten path” seeking a more soulful experience found in the act of creating. PS - loved the differentiation you pointed out between building vs creating!! Scaling, efficiency, optimization, speed, first to market… I’ve spent a lifetime building in this system/framework and the burnout was real! Creating…and act of life-giving work. Starting back at the beginning for me…a new genesis.
i'm not totally sure and i think it depends on the person and their depth of knowing. this is something i'm actively navigating now. i can tell you from my / our last experience that it's not a matter of days ;) i sense that i will build again at some point. and my hope is to let the creative impulse guide the way...and partner with someone who loves to build as much as i love to create.
I've had almost this exact conversation with two clients this week, in different shapes. One on how the minds impulse to figure things out cuts off the creative impulse/incubation. Another how we can get lost in the "what could be" and lose the grounding containment of "what is" - grounded so beautifully in your question "what wants to be expressed here", to which I might add "right now". Have been eating a heaping helping of this for myself
Our culture has this need to monetize everything. We focus on building more rather than needing less. What our souls need is often so much smaller if we are brave enough to listen.
This post and all the comments here… thank you all!! Intentionally choosing this way has certainly been a journey of uncertainty and faith, requiring courage everyday, and sometimes every minute(!). I am finding myself on a path that is not pre-scripted, a complete 180 from the one I was on. Choosing to walk away from a the conventional markers of success - title, corporate badge of honor/association, and the money - is a discomfort that I’ve also found starts to fade as the newfound energy from creative expression begins to reawaken the very reason I even found myself on the old path. Just create. It’s what I’ve been doing in this season of transition and surprisingly, I am also finding myself encountering more and more sojourners on this “off the beaten path” seeking a more soulful experience found in the act of creating. PS - loved the differentiation you pointed out between building vs creating!! Scaling, efficiency, optimization, speed, first to market… I’ve spent a lifetime building in this system/framework and the burnout was real! Creating…and act of life-giving work. Starting back at the beginning for me…a new genesis.
loved this
curious, when do you think it is the right time to switch from creating to building?
i'm not totally sure and i think it depends on the person and their depth of knowing. this is something i'm actively navigating now. i can tell you from my / our last experience that it's not a matter of days ;) i sense that i will build again at some point. and my hope is to let the creative impulse guide the way...and partner with someone who loves to build as much as i love to create.
10/10 question. Seems like a great one to live into right alongside side Steves. "Does this want to be in creation or be built?"
Very timely! Thank you for putting this out in the world.
I've had almost this exact conversation with two clients this week, in different shapes. One on how the minds impulse to figure things out cuts off the creative impulse/incubation. Another how we can get lost in the "what could be" and lose the grounding containment of "what is" - grounded so beautifully in your question "what wants to be expressed here", to which I might add "right now". Have been eating a heaping helping of this for myself
Our culture has this need to monetize everything. We focus on building more rather than needing less. What our souls need is often so much smaller if we are brave enough to listen.
Love that you're exploring this area! Very alive in me as well. What is right relationship with vision?
Curious to hear how this is alive in you Andrew!
Steve, say you got the idea for Downshift today... what would you do differently?