what creative courage means to me
join us for a storytelling showcase this saturday
Hi everyone,
If you’re new here you will soon find out that I talk about creative courage a lot. I think of it as the thread that ties all of my work together. I realize that this simple phrase has different meanings to different people. Let me tell you what it means to me.
The dictionary says that courage is the ability to face your fears and do something that frightens you without knowing the outcome. Let’s say creative courage is the ability to face your fears and show up as your fully expressed self in your life, work, and relationships without knowing the outcome.
Creative courage describes the collection of instincts, urges, and clues that woke me up to the person I wanted to be and the life I wanted to live. It’s is the inner voice that questioned me every time I silenced things I needed to say. It’s the search party that found me every time I wandered too far from myself.
In my life it’s been a desire to return to comes naturally, to imagine a version of me that was never told to be anything but who she is, and who trusts that her authentic expression is just as artfully crafted and mysterious as all of nature.
Creative courage is a life-giving energy that entered my life through questions like: What if I followed this good feeling? What if I stopped hiding and shrinking? What if I thought about this…all of this…differently? What if I let go? What might I find on the other side of my fears?
Creative courage is a mindset and way of being that came from exploring these kinds of questions and rediscovering who I am.
I like the way Brené Brown explains courage:
“The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant "to speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." Over time, this definition has changed, and today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly need heroes, but I think we've lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we are, about what we're feeling, and about our experiences (good and bad) is the definition of courage. Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line. In today's world that's pretty extraordinary.”
And I like the way Rick Rubin describes the creative act as a way of being:
“Think of the universe as an eternal creative unfolding.
Trees blossom.
Cells replicate.
Rivers forge new tributaries.
The world pulses with productive energy, and everything that exists on this planet is driven by that energy.
Every manifestation of this unfolding is doing its own work on behalf of the universe, each in its own way, true to its own creative impulse.”
These perspectives highlight a connection that has fascinated me as I’ve gone through this journey myself. To trust our creative impulses, we must find the courage to put our vulnerability on the line. So how do we do that? What are the steps?
For the past few months, I’ve been working with a group of creatives, soul searchers, and storytellers who entered the Creative Courage Writing Intensive to find a deeper level of self-expression, creative courage, and confidence through writing.
The intensive takes a holistic look at creative courage through the lens of daily habits, reflective self-discovery, and personal storytelling. Participants have learned tools and concepts to nourish their creative process and embrace vulnerability as a source of courage. This Saturday we will gather on Zoom to listen to the fruits of their work as they share a written piece with our community.
You’re invited to join us for our Creative Courage Spring Showcase this Saturday from 1 - 3 pm et on Zoom. Here’s what you need to know:
The showcase is on Saturday, April 20 from 1 - 3 pm et and it’s open to the Writing the Layers community. You can RSVP to join us here.
The showcase will be recorded and available for replay for a limited time after the showcase.
If you’re interested in the joining the summer intensive which starts in June, attending the showcase will be a great way to get a feel for the vibe of the group. (The individuality that each person brings to the cohort makes each one special and different, but the guiding principles that allow for a safe and supportive environment are the same.)
I expect that there will be time for creative discussion and Q&A.
If you’d like to be notified when registration for the summer cohort opens in May, you can sign up here.