Now it is summer here in Portugal – and in entire Europe, to be more precise.
It is curious to notice how the creative process operates a lot like the seasons; it also follows patterns. So, how can we learn to embody and flow with them rather than resist them?
“How long will things be the same? Surely I will be awake, I will sleep, I will be hungry, I will be cold, I will be hot. Is there no end? Do all things go in a circle?” — Seneca
Creativity In Summer
Summer is a time of action and abundance. Ideas are flowing and our energy is at its peak. Growth flourishes and matures in a culmination of creation.
Creativity In Autumn
Autumn is a time of sharing and gratitude. The fruits of creation harvested in the last season give space for sharing ideas and connecting with others.
Creativity In Winter
Winter is a time of stillness, rest, and reflection. A time to turn inward at the end of one thing and the beginning of another. Learn the value of slowing down, going inward, and letting your creative practice meander more.
Creativity In Spring
Spring is a time of renewal and new beginnings. Ideas growing below the surface emerge in a riot of color above as if our creative work is stretching from a long slumber.
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We can see this cycle in different scales and moments of our lives. We can fit this process in weeks, months, years, decades, or even periods.
For example, our daily life has seasons: we wake up (from winter), start our day by gathering energy and momentum for our activities (spring), reach our most productive hours (summer), and then go back home to prepare to sleep again (autumn).
“The creative life is not linear. It’s not a straight line from point A to point B. It’s more like a loop, or a spiral, in which you keep coming back to a new starting point after every project.” – Austin Kleon
So, it is your job to know which season it is and act accordingly.