“With creators, their creations are like their children. They bring the creations into maturity so the creations can live…. The reason you would create anything is because you love it enough to see it exist.”
Robert Fritz — The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative
Force in Your Own Life
We ended the last article with the observation that just like there is a structure and system for the problem solving orientation (a problem occurs, which you either react to, respond to or some combination), there’s also a structure and system to creating.
So, let’s see what that structure is, so we can at least have the choice whether to create our lives or simply react and/or respond to the circumstances of our lives.
By the way, if you’ve been reading Purposeful Pondering Ezine for a while, or if you’ve read the book, LIFE ON PURPOSE: Six Passages to an Inspired Life, you are probably already acquainted with the structure. I’ll give you a hint — it’s in Passage #1.
What is it? It’s the __ __ __
The GAP. Now, while Fritz doesn’t use that name, the structure he describes is the same. Here’s how he outlines it:
1. Conceive of the results you want to create. (I refer to this as the Visionary Reality)
2. Know what currently exists (Your Current Reality)
3. Take action
You see, creators start at the end — with a Visionary Reality of what they intend to create. It’s really hard to create anything until you know what it is you want to create. I know that sounds so obvious but I can’t begin to tell you how many people I’ve worked with that really don’t know what kind of life they want to create.
I have to admit there have been plenty of times in my own life that I wasn’t all that clear. Maybe even clueless. How about you?
Yet, that is where creators start, by getting clear what they want to create.
Ok, so how clear does the vision need to be?
Crystal clear is nice…but not always required. I’ve often been asked when I first founded Life On Purpose Institute did I have a clear and detailed business plan or did it just kind of grow organically. My reply — Yes, both. I did have a pretty clear picture of what it would look like and at the same time like many of our creations; it’s taken on a life of its own.
And so can your creations, including your created life.
Next time, we’ll look at steps 2 and 3. In the meantime, I invite you to try this:
Step into the future. Don’t worry about how far into the future. But imagine in this future you’ve known your life purpose long enough and you’ve allowed it to shape your daily life long enough that your life is clearly a reflection of that purpose. You’ve been creating your life long enough that you can honestly say that you’re living on purpose.
What is your life like?
What is the experience of living a life that is true to your core values, that exemplifies your vision for what is possible, that reflects who you truly are, and is bound together by Universal Love?
What work do you do in this future that is consistent with your purpose?
What are your relationships now like?
What ways are you expressing your life purpose in your community?
How do you express your purpose at play?
And don’t worry if your first cut at this isn’t all that clear. “In the creative process the degree of clarity is not the standard of measurement to use,” writes Fritz. “As long as you would recognize the result if you created it, it is adequately clear.”
Have fun with this… Because creating is our natural gift and it’s meant to be FUN.
