How to Live a Creative Life (6 steps)
The artist’s life is romantic. The aesthetic images and inspiring clips that come to mind are right. But like any life, it’s not always easy or clear——which is why it’s freaking worth it.
The most rewarding things require a little struggle, vulnerability and awkwardness. This is part of why I’m cautious to use too much AI in creative work.
I say this because a truly creative life is one dripped in self awareness, emotion, vulnerability and overcoming self doubt and confidence issues.
Any good path will require pain and work. But this is just a disclaimer that it’s not all late-night painting in a historic warehouse or praise and eccentricity.
But again, it’s the best life there is. It’s a lifestyle that puts you in the driver’s seat (artists create more of their life than non-artists) and makes you more interesting.
Keep at it and you could even change things.
Alright, let’s wrap up this small talk and get to it then.
Table of Contents
What Is a Creative Life?
A creative life is one that prioritizes and significantly participates in creativity or some creative pursuit.
When I say “significantly participates”, I just mean you’re living creatively for more than like, one hour a week.
And for creativity, this is any act where you change, make or curate something in some new, unique or personally expressive way.
The artist lifestyle is built around finding your creative muse and then doing it with consistency.
How to Live a Creative Life (6 steps)
1. First, Mindset
I am creative.
Say that to yourself everyday. Every morning. Every time you have doubt or imposter syndrome.
Because that creative mindset is the key to a creative life.
You could paint everyday, write great books and release singles too…and still struggle to call yourself an artist or a creative person with something to offer.
I speak from experience.
I struggled my whole life to own this title (of artist).
I thought I needed some special training or degree, or recognition, or more experience, the right creative skills, or a better network…a dope portfolio…permission.
But no. I just needed the right mindset.
So own it. You are creative.
Make an alter ego if you need to. Just get to that state of belief and acceptance.
Explore more:
➤ Barriers to Creativity
➤ Feeling Uncreative? This Helps
➤ Have More Creative Confidence
2. Do Creative Things
To live a creative life is to do creative things. Aka, don’t be an armchair creative.
This can be anything (not just the “classic” examples of creativity). The goal is to choose something you actually enjoy or have some level of interest in. Because anything can become artistic.
Cooking, fashion, writing, design, phone photography, typography…almost anything can be creative. And if it’s not immediately obvious, maybe it just needs your intention for it to be so.
It’s impossible to live a creative life without actually doing or participating in creative things.
So find your muse (or a few). Try everything. Lean into the stuff you lose track of time doing.
Explore more:
➤ My Favorite Creative Outlets
3. Curate a Creative Life
I love lifestyle design. When I curate my life to aesthetically match the vibe I want to feel, I’m more motivated, happier and creative.
This is getting into neuroaesthetics (how aesthetics influences your brain chemistry).
So what does a creative life look like for you? For me, it’s stuff like:
Going to creatively inspiring places
Doing creative things with good friends
Good smells and a tidy (but not too tidy) space
Inspiring interior design (art, plants, natural light)
Paying attention to different ideas, books, films and music
An intentional wardrobe built around personal style and taste
Create a mood board to collect inspiring designs, people, brands and ideas. Even Pinterest works here.
The more that your physical environment looks and feels creative, the more creative you’ll inevitably become.
4. Have Supportive Creative Friends
“Your environment influences your personality, life and habits; but so does your inner circle…maybe even more so.”
Jim Rohn told us: you become the average of the five closest people in your life.
So if you’re serious about this, start connecting with more artistic people. This is actually something I never did until recently. And dammit, I was missing out.
Creative friends understand your unique struggles and brain more than anyone.
It’s a network of like-minded people who push you, support you and catch you when you fall (because we all do).
Of course, you don’t need to abandon your old friends, but seriously, start mingling with artsy fartsy folk.
Go to Meetups, gallery exhibits, local shows…do collaborations, join FB groups…connect and put yourself out there.
Is it awkward and hard to meet the right crew? Sure.
But again, I never said this was easy.
(it should be fun though)
5. Have Projects
Why do we make stuff? For a lot of reasons.
But the more important question is why do you want to create? Or rather, what do you want to create?
A creative life without projects is a bit too loose. We don’t want to just dabble in this, we want to embody it.
That’s why I think it’s critical to have projects (not goals). Projects are some tangible creative thing that you’re working on. It could be ongoing or not.
But I say it’s even better if you have some grand plan or vision for your creativity. It adds a lot of purpose (that’s the power of having an ikigai).
For example, writing a book, releasing music, selling your pottery, building a YouTube channel sharing your cinematic videos.
Start with no experience. Look stupid. Fail forward.
You know the drill.
Explore more:
➤ My Favorite Creative Tools
6. Be Messy, Be Weird——Never Perfect
Want to know how to really think like an artist? Don’t be perfect.
(then again, most of us struggle with perfectionism…)
Trying to control everything and be perfect with artistic expressions always leads to creative burnout (which then leads to a sort of anti-creative state).
Instead, explore and express with curiosity and color.
Wear different clothes, listen to music deeply, write about philosophy, color your hair. Be messy and weird.
There’s something contrarian about living a creative life. It’s almost punk. It might be why you feel compelled to live more creatively.
This is your permission slip.
Want to design an aesthetic lofi lifestyle to go with your creative pursuits? Check out this post next.
Otherwise, thanks for reading——later ✌️
Want More? Nice. Here’s More.
