Tools and methodology to inspire creativity for personal and professional development. Through a series of twenty practical and effective exercises, all using a unique visual approach, Michael Atavar challenges you to open your mind, shift your perspective and ignite your creativity. Whatever your passion, craft or aims, this book will expertly guide you from bright idea, through the tricky stages of development, to making your concepts a reality. We often treat creativity as if it was something separate from us—in fact it is, as this book demonstrates, incredibly simple: creativity is nothing other than the very core of "you." At Build and Become we believe in building knowledge that helps you navigate your world. Our books help you make sense of the changing world around you by taking you from concept to real-life application through twenty accessible lessons designed to make you think. Create your library of knowledge. For further information on Build+Become, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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My philosophy is that beginning is every day; beginning is life. We are always beginning. Therefore, you can consciously integrate a small amount of beginning into every action, every project.
Here is the first part of the book – it’s about beginning.
Simply put: how can you start?
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the fear of beginning. You can get caught up in what you don’t have – the perfect studio, the ideal computer, the right job. None of these are present, so you believe that you can’t start.
This is usually a defence; perhaps unconsciously you don’t really want to begin, so you find fault with the environment and push your anxiety onto that element.
Be careful. Starting is difficult. It demands rigour – it needs direction from you.
However, there are strategies that you can use to overcome this anxiety of starting.
My philosophy is that beginning is every day; beginning is life. We are always beginning. Therefore, you can consciously integrate a small amount of beginning into every action, every project.
In this way, you don’t give the feeling of anxiety too much power; you make it a daily action, important, but not overwhelming.
Integrate continuous failure and continuous success into your creativity, so that these elements come to you like waves; they flow through you.
With these methods you can address the fears of beginning while remaining centred, dynamic.
Always, in this book, I will bring the idea back to you. What do you want, think, feel, believe? Therefore, when we look at beginning, we must also discuss what is stopping you from starting.
BEGINNER’S MIND
To help me address the anxiety of starting, I often return to the Zen Buddhist idea of ‘beginner’s mind’ – everything is beginning. You begin every day, every moment. You begin when you breathe, when you inhale and exhale.
In ‘beginner’s mind’ there is possibility, openness, curiosity: all qualities that are useful for an exploration of creativity.
When I remember this simple fact, I return to materiality, to the page. I realise it’s just words on the paper – not finished thoughts or polished rhetoric, but simply beginning with what I have with me right now.
We all feel blocked; it’s a normal condition of creativity. Everyone feels that they are dealing with difficulty – it’s part of the to and fro of being creative.
If you are stuck with your creativity, try the following exercise, which translates Zen ‘beginner’s mind’ into something physical.
Why does this exercise work?
It succeeds because it limits your output to something small and achievable – your breath. It doesn...
