solitude
Creativity demands solitude.
There isn’t a single creative pursuit that doesn’t require some amount of solitude. And for most creative endeavors, the time spent in solitude is more important than any other point in the creative process.
However, while solitude is important, it can be equally paralyzing.
Being alone naturally sparks discomfort. Loneliness strips away our sense of security, as our survival instincts force our bodies to experience suffering.
But being alone isn’t the same as being lonely.
Whenever I feel the pain of solitude I remind myself of the first time I went surfing. My perception of surfing was limited to what I’d seen on TV, so I was surprised that a large portion of the craft is just sitting and waiting. As I sat alone in the water, the discomfort of loneliness quickly began to suffocate me.
Then I remembered that I had a purpose.
The entire reason I was floating alone in the ocean was to wait for the perfect wave. Once I defined my reason for solitude, the discomfort disappeared.
The same is true for our creative work. Once we define our reason for being alone we eliminate our ability to feel lonely.
Creativity demands solitude. Self-reliance is a happy by-product.