Sally Hogshead said, “The reality is: creativity is sloppy, imperfect, and irrational.” How true that is. These unsavory experiences are magnified in the co-creative process. This goes for marriage, relationships, our co-workers, community and global processes, and LIFE. I wish someone had helped me understand that when I founded the Holistic Alliance back in the late 1990’s. It is almost unimaginable that we closed the doors at 100 Church over 16 years ago.
It might have also been helpful for me to have been more aware of the stages of creativity when we developed Subtle Communication Systems. Perhaps I could have been more appreciative of the bumps and bruises Joel and I would experience along the way.
SCS Matters, as it has come to be called, grew out of the creative synergy between Joel and Debra, but it is much bigger than either of us—or the two of us. In fact, awareness of the way energy and language interplay, along with the importance of intention and skillful actions, changes everything.
As an example, I will share an excerpt from some recent communication with a woman in the healthcare field (hospice care) who previously studied with us:
Our staff sometimes creates barriers rather than opens doors. Instead of helping patients understand all the benefits of receiving hospice care (for THAT patient) our staff sometimes presents comfort care with a focus on what patients can’t do while on hospice. Even when treatment is no longer effective in fighting the disease patients are sometimes emotionally tied to the treatment or the physician/providers. Giving up the treatment can feel like losing another thing. Many of our employees lack the language skills to help patients move through those emotions.
It makes a huge difference how something is framed. Doing a search for “framing for persuasion” yielded 452,000 pages. Understanding this simple linguistic point is a big deal—and framing is one of many significant language tools in the SCS/NLP lineup.
Because the creative process has ups and downs (sloppy, imperfect, and irrational was already mentioned), it is vital you can know where you are and can appreciate the process. Loving your first fruits of creation allows you to bring compassionate to the mess.
According to Hogshead’s article: The Five Stages of Your Creative Process, here’s how to diagnose which of the five stages you’re in:
Stage 1: Possibility
You’re coming up with all the easy stuff. You might have some interesting starter ideas, but really, you probably have nothing. It feels like fun, free-range exploration. You’re probably saying to yourself, “Here’s a cool idea. Here’s another one. And another. Man, I’m pretty good.”
Stage 2: Doubt
As you begin to look at your ideas more closely, you realize, um… they’re actually not that great. Doubt sets in and uncertainty set in. You might become defensive, and start questioning the process, and yourself.
Stage 3: Agony
The most grueling of all steps in the creative process, this stage is a red-blooded struggle. Nothing seems to work. Your co-workers get stressed by the perceived lack of progress. You worry that you’ll be exposed as a hack. Ughhh. Suddenly, the whole project seriously sucks.
Stage 4: Epiphany
You’ve done it! You’ve just invented a big, new idea. With a burst of energy and relief, your breakthrough has happened.
Stage 5: Finesse
Now you’re crafting the raw idea to be more strategic and purposeful. Your skill and training really begins to shine through, as you hone and refine your concept into the best possible execution. Now you gain momentum with focused, purposeful engagement. The goal is in sight.
After too many years were spent feeling agony judging myself for being in Stage 3, the Stage 4 epiphany has been to see the amazing results of our work in the lives of so many. Former students are doing significant things in the world. Clients have had life-changing experiences. The world at large is moving to an appreciation of energy medicine and hypnosis. (Neurolinguistic Programming was a made-up name, so people could to hypnosis without calling it that. See: the history of the creation of NLP.)
I would like to think we are entering Stage 5, but perhaps every moment has a bit of every stage tucked within. Maybe, like the grief process, we never cross one stage off our list, and move on. It may be we make each moment what it is.
I am excited about ways to help the staff at hospice assist their patients so they can see opportunities and benefits, even while navigating barriers and losses. (See my article for January 2016, Make the Most of It.)
I well remember the first workshop Joel and I co-facilitated. He stood up to present—accustomed to teaching large classes at WMU. My strength was sitting down presenting to small groups. If I had known, I would have worn more comfortable shoes…
The other day I was talking with a friend (she also studied SCS/NLP with us!) about the difference between seeing things as wholesome or unwholesome and skillful or unskillful, rather than judging every circumstance as right or wrong. I have not always been kind in my assessment of my creativity—but I am learning the freedom that comes when you can be compassionate with yourself at times when you are less skillful.
Our creative process is always birthing the new. That is the nature of creativity. The real wisdom is to love the first fruits of our creation at every stage. to never give up, and to share the best by forgiving the rest.
Here is a Haiku celebrating SCS Matters for you to enjoy!
SCS matters
Words and energy matter
You can be aware
Open up your mind
Notice what is there for you
Share the best with all
Feel your heart expand
See your bright future right there
Take the next right step