Trust the process (easier said than done!) 😅

Hi Reader, 

The first time that I shared one of my compositions with other composers, the organizer of the gathering told me, “You obviously have a lot of trust in the process,” after he had heard my piece. I thought, “Do I? I really don't feel like I know what I'm doing.”

“Trust the process” is one of those pieces of advice that’s so much easier to dish out than to follow, especially since many more destinations and finished products are typically shown to us than grueling, in-process journeys.

Even if it feels challenging, we inherently have to have some trust in the process to even get a note down on paper (or insert your artistic medium here).

Have you ever been in a situation where you're just flowing with the creative process, and you're thinking, “What is this, I don't know what I'm doing right now. It's kind of weird, it's kind of out there, it might be out of my comfort zone, but I'm going with it.” That's trust!

When you’re starting something and feel like you don't have any good ideas, you trust that the next idea will come to you, somehow.

Every time that we dare to write something down, create something tangible, or commit to showing somebody else, that's trust.

There's also that point, though, in the middle of the process, where the messy, mean thoughts start to rush in, like, “This is terrible. I'm never gonna finish this. I'm gonna throw this away.” (I’m sure you know what I’m talking about!)

At these moments you might be thinking, “How in the world am I going to do (or even figure out) the next step in this process, because I don't even believe in this anymore?!” Trust in the process may become elusive, but this is so very normal.

Usually, if you find a way to keep going, whatever that may be, your perception will change at some point. Or, you’ll find that you want to scrap it and move on to something else. That discernment is also part of practicing trust in the process.

Trust is so essential to creativity, for so many reasons other than trusting the creative process itself, and they’re all integrated:

🌟Trusting your own abilities and potential

🌟 Building self trust when you surprise yourself with what you can create or accomplish

🌟Trusting in the power of habits to pave the way for positive changes

🌟Trusting rest (stepping away from hustle culture) and the cyclical nature of energy

🌟Trusting stillness and quiet enough not to reach for your phone all the time

🌟Trusting that there is plenty of time

🌟Trusting yourself to meet your own needs and that you can always be kind and supportive to yourself

🌟Trusting your own intuition in decision making

🌟Trusting in pleasure, joy, and feeling good for the sake of feeling good)

🌟Trusting in the universe, that everything will work out okay (this is a process, am I right, fellow anxiety people?)

Cultivating trust in any of these areas can require some deep work as you open yourself up to the idea that something is possible, especially if it doesn't intellectually particularly feel believable. 

Everything is interconnected, so it can affect every area of your life as you lean into this kind of openness to the process and being curious about what will happen!

When you're feeling uncertain about what's next, it can be really hard to trust the process. During those times, you can ask yourself: 

• What do you trust?

• What do you know to be true?

• What do you know about your past successes?

• What do you know about what you want from your life and your creativity, even if it's scary?

• What seems really unknown or impossible that you want to try anyway?

Practicing trust doesn’t mean that fear is absent - they can happen in tandem with each other. One of my favorite things about being a creative coach is helping you find that trust in yourself as you work through the challenges and find your own answers!

Leaning into trust can also mean leaning into the things that calm your nervous system, because that’s what will help you to access those feelings of ease, openness, enjoyment, and feeling safe in hoping for great things, whatever that means for you.

Creating is a brave act and daring to create is pretty amazing, no matter what the outcome is.

As I like to tell folks doing hard things, congratulations on being present and going through the process!

The word trust usually feels like a warm, comforting hug to me and really calms my heart, and I wish that for you, too. 💗 

I hope that you're able to cultivate trust for yourself, in your creative process and any area of your life - to nurture yourself as a whole person and a creator.

To go deeper on this topic, check out the latest episode of Being A Whole Person - listen or read the transcript here.

Are you working on anything you're excited about right now? I would love to hear about it. Hit reply if you'd like to share!

Stay well, my friends - I'm always rooting for you. My inbox is always open, so please feel free to reach out if I can help in any way. 

I always love hearing from you!

Have a lovely week! ⁠

Rebecca

• Minnesota artists discuss connection between mental health and creativity - A great piece on Dissonance, the Twin Cities-based nonprofit that supports members of the local arts community by creating safe spaces to talk about mental health and addiction - such important work!
• Against grit: Why setting the bar low is the key to making real change in your life - I loved this piece by Jessica Abel on having more realistic expectations.
• The Secret to Not Taking Yourself So Seriously - Good tips for leaning into humor, play, and joy!

• E64: Why Trust is Essential to the Creative Process

We often hear people talk about trusting the creative process, but leaning into trust can benefit us in so many interconnected ways besides just when we’re in active creation mode. In this episode I explore all of the ways where trust can benefit our creativity, help you feel like a whole person, and offer tips to help you cultivate trust in yourself.

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