Making a Practice of Creativity
©Susie Stonefield 2012 | You Might Need a Map
The other day, I was on a call with someone who longed to make art but wasn’t doing it.
When I asked what was holding her back, she admitted she’d heard that creativity requires a daily practice—otherwise, it doesn’t “count” or isn’t being done right.
She was curious about it . . . but instead of inspiring her, that expectation felt overwhelming. The idea of a rigid, daily commitment left her frozen.
“I can never keep up with that.”
“What if I miss a day?”
“What if I’m not feeling it?”
“What if I take a week off?”
“What’s the point of starting?”
And just like that, the pressure to do it perfectly was keeping her from doing it at all.
Owning Your Creative Practice
Here’s what I told her: A daily or weekly practice can be beautiful, as long as it works for you. It’s yours to own—not someone else’s rule to follow.
A creative practice isn’t about obligation. It’s an opportunity to:
🎨 Experiment
🎨 Make mistakes
🎨 Play
🎨 Explore
🎨 Expand
🎨 Get comfortable
🎨 Improve over time
It’s about showing up for yourself, in whatever way feels right. Not about producing a masterpiece, but about making space for creative expression—whether that’s a scribble in your journal, gluing scraps of paper into a collage, mixing colors that make you happy, or spending hours lost in a project.
The Power of Commitment
When you commit to creativity, something shifts. A door opens. Possibilities emerge.
By making time for creative play—whether daily, weekly, or whenever it fits—you’re committing to yourself. You’re making space for joy, exploration, and self-expression. And that commitment? That’s gold.
It doesn’t have to be big. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
Resistance, Commitment and Acceptance
Feeling resistance? That’s normal. It’s part of the experience.
Think about meditation. Many meditators have a practice of sitting down each day. Do they always feel like doing it? No. But the rhythm of their practice gets them in the door. Artists, poets, and writers show up in the same way. Not because they always feel inspired, but because they’ve created a space to return to. Creativity works like that too. The hardest step is simply beginning.
And just as important as commitment? Acceptance.
The commitment is only as good as your willingness to own it. That means you get to set the terms:
✔️ You decide how often you show up.
✔️ You decide how long you spend.
✔️ You decide if today’s the day you skip it—or dive in twice as long.
Most of all, you get to show up without judgment.
As Natalie Goldberg said: "I am careful not to pass judgment or create anxiety if I do not do it."
Give Yourself Permission
Two of my favorite creativity mantras?
✨ Let Go of Expectations
✨ Give Yourself Permission
So, I invite you: Explore what a creative practice might look like for you. Approach it with an open heart. Keep your expectations gentle. Then—give yourself permission to commit in your way.
And if you do? I’d love to hear about it.
