Creativity needs Discipline?
April 30, 2008
I was struck yesterday by how much the “good things” in life need discipline.
It started while I was walking in the afternoon thinking I had not written in my diary or on the blog for a couple of days and how writers really just need to write something every day, regardless of its quality or intent. There’s a discipline to showing up to the screen even when you are happy and deliriously busy.
This thought was echoed in the late afternoon on a firm-wide call. Many senior people talked about how they were being more disciplined in their work and in their networking conversations…and how much they really enjoyed it. There seemed to be this unanswered question in the air – what happens once we are on firmer footing. Will the “bad” habits return?
It’s so funny, I often think of discipline to get me through a tough spot. It’s a stick. But what about discipline when things are really going well? Discipline is support, a structure. How much deeper would my enjoyment be? Could the highs be higher?
Interesting. I hadn’t thought of discipline in that way before, but some of the best things in life do require it.
I never thought of discipline that way either, but when I think of a gardener having to tend his garden so it can bear its fruits, it all makes sense. I am going to try to apply this to my life. Thanks for sharing your epiphany, Meghna!