Start in Motion

Years ago I stood in a classroom as a replacement teacher and witnessed a young man sit through an entire creative writing class without putting pen to paper.

Looking back I think the task was part of an assessment, so teachers weren't allowed to offer much assistance or encouragement. According to his regular teachers, the young man was intelligent, creative and quite capable.

Ability wasn't the problem. Starting was the problem.

There are a whole lot of reasons why we find starting a new creative project difficult. From perfectionism to overthinking.

Sometimes the more we believe we can do a good job, the harder it is to get started. When we start, when we make the idea into a reality, we run the risk of it not meeting our expectations.

Starting in motion helps us sidestep the internal dialogue. It gives us the momentum we need to slip into flow state, opening us up to the steady stream of new ideas, floating around in the ether, just waiting to be engaged.

Running is easier when we start with a gentle walk. It allows us to warm up, not only physically but also by firing up the neural networks that tune us in to the movement and sensations of the body.

When we start in motion, our nervous system has an opportunity to gradually expand our window of tolerance, to get comfortable with the increasingly complex demands of the creative act at hand.

When a surfer catches a wave, they must first meet the energy of the wave by exerting their own energy. By starting in motion, the surfer's effort is rewarded by an almost effortless ride.

Write nonsense.

Draw without clear direction.

Pick up the guitar and play a note, any note.