“…You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.”

A lot of us resonate with that quote because it lifts our responsibility. It means we’re only in charge of one thing. It means we’re not alone in our creative work.

But…

What does it actually mean?

How do you keep the channel open?

✨

I can think of two main ways. Here’s the first:

Get used to sitting alone.

For longer than you want to.

Get used to staying present with uncertainty and boredom. To allowing for distraction without chasing it. To not reaching for your phone the second the urge strikes.

Sit.

Long enough to remember that text you have to send, that thing you have to do in another room.

Long enough to let your attention feel a little scared. Where do I go?

You must give ideas a safe landing pad. Your mind must stay still and present.

Only then can the timid butterflies that are your brilliant ideas see you and land safely on your pen.

They cannot land if you yourself are flitting about, rushing to the nearest stimulus at the first sign of movement. They need stillness. They need peace.

🦋

You can do this.

Even if it’s hard, even if you have good reasons you can’t. 
It may take practice. You may have to train your attention in increasing increments starting with ten seconds.

It may take work and unprecedented levels of mental discomfort. It may feel as awful as meditating. That is normal. That’s how it’s done.

Do this consistently. Do this imperfectly.

That’s keeping the channel open.