Don’t Be Afraid to Venture into the Zone

Okay, let’s get a little weird. Let’s talk about something intangible: creativity.

True creativity is not easily understood. It doesn’t chase riches; instead, it thrives on ideas and emotions. For creative individuals, the act of creation itself is something that they can’t seem to resist. Frankly, these individuals become obsessed. (Been there, done that.) It’s as if their minds are wired in a unique way that compels them to create. They get completely absorbed in it.

I love being in the ‘zone’. Even though I’m a writer, I’ve come to realize that creativity is not just a mental process. It’s an immersive experience. Imagine it as a brilliant explosion of thoughts, like electrons colliding in a burst of energy and illumination, literally blowing your mind. That’s the rush of creativity. (Told you I was going to get weird.) For creative people, creativity isn’t a means to an end; it’s an end. There’s this high that comes from it, though I’m not sure where exactly it comes from (I’m sure there is a psychological term for it). It’s not about what we might gain from being creative, but about the pure pleasure we derive from it. It’s the natural high we crave. We lose ourselves in something that feels larger than life, a concept greater than our individual existence. It’s like we dissolve into our work, becoming one with our creations. Our self-consciousness fades away, and all that remains is the idea we’re pursuing and the creativity flowing through us. This immersion is often so deep, so intense, that we lose track of time and space. Hours may pass by quickly, we may forget our surroundings, we may forget to eat because we’re engrossed in the world of our imagination. But here’s the amazing thing. We may also forget our inhibitions, fears, and doubts. Our usual self-awareness gives way to a state of pure creation, unadulterated by our own self-judgment.

So, the next time you find yourself in the ‘zone’, treasure it. Allow yourself to get completely lost in the experience. Don’t worry about the outcome. The goal isn’t to produce something perfect or achieve immediate success. The goal is to create, to express yourself, to let your creativity flow freely, to get that high. Embrace the experience, let go of your fears, and let your creativity guide you.

Who knows, you might just find yourself creating something mind-blowing that even you can’t believe came from you.


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Clay Stafford

Clay Stafford has had an eclectic career as an author, filmmaker, actor, composer, educator, public speaker, and founder of the Killer Nashville International Writers' Conference, voted the #1 writers' conference in the U.S. by The Writer magazine. He has sold nearly four million copies of his works in over sixteen languages. As CEO of American Blackguard Entertainment, he is also the founder of Killer Nashville Magazine and the Killer Nashville Network. He shares his experiences here. Subscribe to his weekly newsletter featuring Success Points for writers and storytellers.

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