Keep Going - Book Summary

Cultivate Your Creativity: Find and Sustain Your Artistic Drive

Creativity can be as unpredictable as the weather. At its peak, it fills you with a sense of purpose and pride. But like an unwelcome drought, there are times when inspiration feels as distant as a mirage, leaving you drained and in doubt. Your creative endeavors, be it in writing, music, or design, suffer. You may even find yourself in a state of creative despair, thinking about abandoning your projects completely.

What you need in these moments is not just a quick fix but a strategy for perseverance — a way to breathe life back into your creative pursuits and keep the wheels of innovation turning. This guide offers an array of insights on how to reignite the creative spark within you, ensuring that your inner flame burns brightly regardless of the external pressures that threaten to snuff it out.

As you journey through these teachings, you'll discover:

- The common thread that links literary greats like Sylvia Plath and Franz Kafka, and how it influences creativity;

- The importance of shifting from a destination mindset to embracing the creative journey; and

- Strategies for crafting your very own sanctuary of creativity, whimsically known as a Bliss Station.

Make Your Art a Daily Habit with a Customized Creative Routine

Navigating the seas of creativity requires a compass — that's where the power of routine comes in. We all face the natural ebb and flow of our creative energies, and that's completely normal. No multitude of strategies will fully tame this unpredictable tide; however, what remains within your grasp is commitment. Your presence, your readiness at your workspace, serves as an invitation to whatever spark of creativity is available that day, mighty or meager.

Think of your daily engagement with your craft as an essential part of your life, akin to eating or sleeping. Without regularity, there is no hope for those exceptional days of creative breakthroughs because, simply put, you're not there to witness them. The idea, then, is to ensure that you are — through rain or the fiercest creative drought — invariably present to catch the rains of inspiration when they do fall.

Historically, many successful creatives have thrived on routine. Whether inspired by Sylvia Plath's predawn prose or tempted by the allure of Kafka's nocturnal narratives, remember that their routines were custom-crafted to suit their individual rhythms. John Steinbeck honed his focus by sharpening pencils, while Goethe inhaled the scent of aged apples to stimulate his senses. The method might be peculiar, but the message is clear: find your groove and stick to it.

Consider your own lifestyle, your natural inclinations — are you more alert when the sun rises, or does your imagination come alive under the moon's gaze? Pair these personal tendencies with the practical aspects of your life. When can you dedicate uninterrupted time to your art? What peculiar, perhaps quirky, rituals might lead you into a state of creative flow? It's in answering these personal puzzles that your routine will take shape, a routine that doesn't shackle your creativity but anchors it in daily practice.

So, if the thought of routine makes you balk, think of it not as a cage, but as a strategically open gate. The discipline of a routine is not about constriction; it's about ensuring that every day, there is room to welcome creativity into your life, to let it breathe, expand, and occupy the space you've set aside just for it. In this way, routine becomes your creative ally, carving out a sanctuary amidst life’s chaos where your muse knows it can always find you.

Create Your Own Bliss Station to Shield Your Creativity from the Noise of Daily Life

In a world where distractions abound, securing an oasis of tranquility for your creative pursuits is not just beneficial, it's necessary. When life buzzes with a relentless to-do list and electronic devices ping with endless notifications, finding your developmental haven becomes a challenge. Enter the concept of a Bliss Station, a serene harbor coined by the famous mythologist Joseph Campbell, designed for the singular purpose of fostering creativity.

If you're fortunate enough to dedicate a room or corner as your very own creative enclave — an atelier where your thoughts can free-wheel away from the relentless pace of modern life — treasure it. But even if your living quarters are tight and space is at a premium, fear not. A Bliss Station can also be a time of day, an interval carved out of the routine when your world is quiet enough for your imagination to roar.

Whether it's the silence of early morning before anyone else is awake, or the hush of late night when the world has fallen asleep, it is during these times that you can enter your personal creative zone. The rule is unyielding: this time or space is sacred, insulated from the deluge of daily intrusions.

To protect your Bliss Station, and your priceless streaks of creative time, consider two essential practices. First, heed the call of 'airplane mode,’ not only as a setting on your digital devices, but as a metaphor for a mindset of deep, undistracted focus. Just as a flight insulates you from the digital cacophony — no social media, no buzzing messages — adopting this approach on the ground can be equally liberating. By slipping in earplugs or turning on noise-canceling headphones, you signal to the world, and to yourself, that it's time for introspection and creativity, not interruption.

The second practice involves distancing yourself from the steady stream of news, particularly early in the day. Mornings should be reserved for reviving and uplifting activities — a stroll, a good book, your favorite tunes, or engaging with loved ones. News consumption can be appropriately timed to later hours or even relegated to a specific 'catch-up' day. With this approach, you stay well-informed while preventing the news from casting a shadow over your entire day.

In building your Bliss Station — be it spatial or temporal — you carve out a sanctuary for your creativity. It's a commitment to yourself, to cultivate your art in a peaceful corner of the world, undisturbed by its chaos and clamor.

Boost Your Creative Genius with Lists, Tidiness, and the Refreshing Power of Sleep

In your quest to safeguard creativity against the distractions of our fast-paced world, establishing a Bliss Station and maintaining disconnection rituals are invaluable practices. To further fortify your creative spirit, let's delve into more straightforward, yet powerful tools that can bring serenity and maybe even spark new ideas.

First, let's talk about lists. Lists can harness your scattered thoughts into structures that guide and inspire your work. You've heard of to-do lists, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Visual artist David Shrigley maintains a list of subjects to draw, ensuring he never faces an empty canvas without direction. Author Steven Johnson keeps a thought-list for future muse moments to revisit, while the rock band The Wire outlined their approach by listing elements they intentionally avoided in their music. These lists are not mere collections of tasks; they are honed roadmaps for creative exploration.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room: tidiness. Marie Kondo has championed the art of decluttering, but let's not declare war on all disorder. A little chaos in your space can lead to serendipitous connections essential for creativity. However, too much clutter can clutter the mind, especially when the tools of your trade go AWOL in the disorder. So, while your creative materials can afford to sprawl in thought-provoking arrays, keep your tools neatly stowed.

When you do hit a wall in your creative process, consider tidying as a secondary activity for reinvigoration. Sort through your space thoughtfully, considering each item. Such gentle reorganization can be meditative, and you may find yourself stumbling upon unfinished projects that reignite your creative engines.

Our final piece of advice is, on the surface, the most simplistic: embrace naps. Just as tidying refreshes your workspace, sleep cleanses the mind, with the brain's waste removal system ridding neurons of toxins during slumber. In the gently untapped recesses of a nap, your mind is free to weave new patterns of thought, often awakening with insights not realized under the glaring light of consciousness.

In the annals of great creators, napping is noted as a secret weapon. The Coen Brothers, novelist Phillip Roth, and artist Salvador Dalí all knew the rejuvenating spell of a good nap. So, keep your list at hand, your space sensibly sorted, and surrender to the occasional, restorative slumber. With these tactics, you stand to not just protect but actively nurture your creative prowess.

Keep the Joy in Your Creative Journey by Avoiding the Traps of Monetization and Popularity

The mantra "do what you love" has shaped countless dreams of making art one's livelihood. Imagine indulging in your deepest creative passions with the added perk of banking a paycheck. The thought of living off your art or becoming an online sensation might seem like the ultimate life goal, but it comes with a hidden price tag that can drain the passion from your pursuits.

Here's the conundrum: when your creativity also has to pay the bills, suddenly your art is no longer a free-spirited exploration but a necessity, laden with the heavy burden of financial survival. The joy of creation may become tainted by the need for it to be successful, and the career of your dreams can morph into a source of stress you'd rather avoid.

To sidestep this slippery slope, consider maintaining a day job. This practical approach provides a safety net that allows you to nurture your creative projects without the looming pressure to monetize them. If your heart is set on a creative career, strive to balance business with pleasure. Keep a portion of your art sacred, never crossing the line into commerce. This ensures that the spark of true joy in your work never goes out — there's always a flame dancing, solely for the romance of creation.

Bear in mind that monetary gain isn't the sole external reward that might ensnare your art; the intoxicating pursuit of online popularity — followers, likes, retweets — can be equally distracting. To guard against the diminishing returns of chasing social validation, periodically step back. After sharing your creations online, give yourself permission not to check the performance metrics right away. Let the work breathe. Let it exist independently of immediate feedback.

One timeless, richly rewarding practice that cuts through the noise of finances and fame is the art of creating as a means of gifting. Dive into a project with the singular intention of brightening someone else's world — a personal piece, destined for the hands, eyes, or ears of a loved one, a friend, or even a stranger online. Such intentions strip away concerns of value and reach, reconnecting you with the purity of your craft.

Consider the homemade robot collages an author crafted for his son, mementos far more meaningful than any sold piece could be. Or think of the cherished tales like Winnie-the-Pooh, Pippi Longstocking, and The Hobbit — each began not as commodities, but as heartfelt stories spun for the ears of young listeners. In these acts of giving, remember, the truest gifts are not those that launch far and wide but those that touch deeply, crafted from the heart rather than for the market.

Embrace the Journey Rather Than the Title: Be a Doer, Not Just a Dreamer

In our exploration of creative vitality, we now confront an overarching metric, the mirage of having "arrived" as an established practitioner in the arts — be it as a recognized writer, painter, or filmmaker. There's a pervasive focus on acquiring the label, the noun, rather than reveling in the act, the verb, of creating. We celebrate 'the novelist' more than 'the act of novel writing,' 'the sculptor' more than 'the art of sculpting,’ thereby missing the essence of creativity itself.

Concentrating on becoming a recognized creative noun can blinker and bound us in subtle ways. Take painting, for example. If your gaze is fixated on the title of 'painter,’ there's a risk that you'll delay the very act of painting — tacitly waiting for external validation before taking up the brush with conviction. Once the title is acquired, new challenges arise; the danger of pigeonholing oneself becomes real. Identifying solely as a painter may deter you from exploring writing or sculpting, inadvertently putting up walls around your artistic spirit.

Yet, the pursuit of a creative title is an elusive quest, for the promised land of 'having arrived' is a mythical destination on the creative landscape. Creativity is a cyclical journey, not a linear trajectory with a grand finale where one receives the crown of accomplishment. Envision a writer, no different from any artist, who faces the perennial challenge of a blank page. Each new day, each new project, raises the timeless question: What will fill this void?

The often-unspoken truth is that the blank page is the common ground for all creators, from those cloaked in accolades to the solitary figures crafting worlds unseen in quiet corners. It is this unchanging reality that binds the creative community beyond the scope of external recognition. Success, experience, fame — these do not alter the core of the creative act, which is always about what you create next, not the title that precedes your name.

The soul of creativity lies not in the name but in the action — the timeless turning of blank canvases into art, the relentless stroke of pen on paper, the etching of formless clay into statuesque beings. It's this devotion to the doing, the ongoing dance with the muse, that keeps the circle turning, keeps the pages filling. It is the act of creation that defines the creator, and it is by showing up, day in and day out, with hands ready to mold the unseen into being, that one truly embodies the spirit of an artist.

Embrace Play to Spark Your Creative Fire

The pursuit of creativity often calls for a gently radical shift — from the static nouns that define our artistic identities to the living verbs that animate our work. To rekindle your creative process, look no further than the boundless imagination of a child. For children, the act of creation is an act of play, unhindered by the constraints of official titles or the burden of a finished product.

Consider the author’s son, Jules, whose love for drawing as a toddler exemplified the very essence of creativity untamed by expectations. To Jules, what mattered most wasn't the end result — the drawing itself — but the joyous act of drawing, the verb, the doing. Once his masterpiece was complete, it held no more significance for him than any other piece of paper; what lingered instead was the pleasure of the process.

This childlike indifference towards the outcome uncovers an important truth about play — it's an activity we engage in simply for the joy of it, not for any external outcomes such as approval or acclaim. When we embark on creative work as a form of play, we liberate ourselves to experiment and express freely, unbound by worries of judgment or quality.

To foster a spirit of playful creativity, contemplate creating a piece of work — only to intentionally dispose of it. If it’s a digital creation, hit delete. If it’s a melody, let it dissipate into the air. If it’s a physical object, recycle it or perhaps safely set it ablaze to emphasize the transient nature of the act over the artifact.

You can push this exercise of detachment even further by setting out to create something unapologetically terrible. Sketch the ugliest drawing imaginable, sing a cacophonous tune, pen a trite story. What you'll find is freedom in the liberation from perfection, a flight from the fear of failure.

Take a leaf from Lawrence Weschler's book and seek out childlike activities, such as playing with building blocks. Engage with simplicity and tangibility as a means to untangle complex thoughts and creative blockages. Nothing breaks through a mental impasse quite like the tactile, immediate feedback of stacking, arranging, and rearranging physical objects.

By tapping into the power of play, you access a wellspring of unharnessed creativity. It’s in the doing, the creating, the playing where art truly lives and what we, as devoted practitioners of our various crafts, must gleefully return to time and again. Forget the pressure to produce something monumental — let your creative endeavors be guided by a sense of wonder and whimsy, much like the innocent, unfettered artistry of a child.

Uncover the Extraordinary in the Everyday: A Creative Life Need Not Be a Lavish One

Amidst daydreams of turning our ordinary existences into lives of thrill and splendor, it's easy to believe that a more extraordinary backdrop would provide the necessary catalyst for remarkable creative achievements. It's a seductive notion, but one that couldn't be further from reality.

The truth is, great creativity need not spring from great adventure. The everyday, the routine, the seemingly unremarkable threads of our lives are rich with potential inspiration. Yes, your neighborhood, your office, perhaps even your daily commute — these are wellsprings of creative material, if only you choose to see them as such.

A quintessential example is found in Harvey Pekar, the file clerk at a hospital in Cleveland who defied the conventions of comic book storytelling. Instead of otherworldly heroes in spandex, Pekar's "American Splendor" comics found heroism in the banality of his clerical life. The humdrum job didn't stifle his creativity but became a canvas for it, reminding us that the mundane settings of our lives can often be the most relatable and compelling to others.

To tap into the magic that lurks in the ordinary, one must first truly see it. Modern life, unfortunately, blurs the world around us into a streak of colors as we rush from one task to another, rarely stopping to truly observe. To counteract this, engage in a simple, yet profound activity: drawing from life.

With just a pencil and paper in hand, seek out a subject — be it in an art museum or the view from your kitchen — and devote time to really look at it. Art critic Peter Clothier suggests a practice of observation so intense that you commit an hour to study your subject before you even touch pencil to paper. While this might be an indulgence of time, the essence of the exercise is to immerse yourself in a slow, methodical examination of the details that typically go unnoticed.

The potency of this exercise is not dependent on your drawing skills; whether you're an amateur or an artiste, the goal remains the same. It's about honing your ability to observe, to cherish the particulars you might have missed in a life lived at full speed.

Allow yourself to become a collector of observations, an archaeologist of the seemingly banal. Your creativity doesn't yearn for exotic locales and extraordinary experiences — it simply begs for you to notice the world around you and find inspiration in the life you're living now.

When Creative Pursuits Cost Happiness, It's Time to Reflect and Recalibrate

In life and in art, well-being takes precedence. But what if your pursuit of creativity brings about misery, both for yourself and those around you? Should you push through, adhering to the romantic but flawed ideal of the tortured artist? According to this myth, pain is the price of great art, and suffering is not just unavoidable but necessary to fuel the creative fire.

Reject this myth. Embrace the notion that the ultimate aim of art is to add richness and joy to life, not detract from it. Creative work should enhance our existence, rather than demand sacrifices that leave us or our loved ones in the shadows of bitterness and pain. If your artistic endeavors are casting a pall over your happiness or that of others, it's time to pause and ponder.

Remember, creative work is not an obligation; it's one of many paths to leading a fulfilling life. There's a world of noble and rewarding activities beyond your craft — from humanitarian aid to education — that can provide a sense of purpose and contribution that creative work might temporarily fail to offer. If your art has become a wellspring of sorrow, stepping away to explore these other avenues might just be the most creative act you can take.

This isn't a summons to permanently abandon your craft, especially if it typically brings you fulfillment. Every artist encounters rough seas. What’s crucial is discerning whether you're weathering a passing storm or if the ship of your creative endeavor is steering you consistently off course. Only you can determine the right course of action, but always aim for the light of happiness, contentment, and positive impact on those you hold dear.

In navigating the journey of creativity, your compass must be calibrated not by ambition or acclaim but by the more grounded virtues of kindness, empathy, and emotional well-being. The world indeed has little need for more tortured artists. It thirsts for individuals who balance personal fulfillment with the well-being of their community — those who can bring light not only to their canvas, paper, or stage but to the hearts of others as they go.

As you chart your route forward, prioritize your health and happiness, and the happiness of those around you. Steer true to the course that brightens life's canvas, and keep journeying steadfastly toward the light, wherever it may shine.

Embrace the Ebb and Flow: A Guide to Nurturing Creativity

Creativity is not a constant force; it waxes and wanes like the phases of the moon. Yet, within this natural rhythm, we have the power to cultivate our creative sparks and transform them into enduring flames. By setting a daily routine, we establish the framework within which inspiration can strike. We can unplug from the cacophony of modern life, making space for tranquility and focus. Lists become our allies, guiding our thoughts and keeping us on course.

The act of tidying our physical environment can often mirror the clearing of mental clutter, leading us to unexpected pockets of inspiration. Sleep, too, serves as a powerful reset button for our brains, washing away fatigue and manifesting fresh ideas. And in our perpetual chase for originality, we must heed the wisdom of gifting, choosing creation for joy over profit, and engagement over popularity.

To truly delve into creativity, one must adopt a childlike sense of play, where the process takes precedence over the final product. In such freedom, we find the essence of artistic expression. Yet, while creativity can be a source of joy, it should not come at the cost of our happiness or that of others. If we find ourselves or those around us suffering because of our craft, it may be time to reassess and find balance once again.

In the journey towards a fulfilled creative life, the path is often winding. There is no ultimate 'arrival,' no title that encapsulates the dynamic process of creating. It's in the doing — the writing, the painting, the composing — that we find fulfillment.

These guiding principles serve as your compass: maintain your routine, disconnect to connect, list your way forward, tidy your mind and space, nap to renew, gift wholeheartedly, play freely, and balance creativity with happiness. Treasure the journey of imagination, and let your creativity flourish, enhancing life's tapestry with every meaningful act of creation.