Among the most thought-provoking pieces I discovered for the new feature I’m debuting today, #Creativity: It’s a Wrap, are those that take aim at finding balance. 

“Creative people have a great deal of physical energy, but they’re also often quiet and at rest.” —Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Am I schizo? If you sometimes wonder (as I do), this article will shed some relief on that common creative self-constraint: Ten Paradoxical Traits of Creative People: “Creativity is the common theme that drives both entrepreneurs and artists alike. But creative people are often also paradoxical” writes Faisal Hoque in Fast Company, and offers a list of 10 contradictions from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book, Creativity: The Work and Lives of 91 Eminent People.

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“It’s not so much reaching the goal as who I become getting there.“ —Patrick Todoroff

When you’re always looking ahead at achieving your goals, or looking back at your mistakes, you’re always always off-balance. Patrick Todoroff (writing as ccglazier) makes an eloquent case for creatives to never look back in Ring out or Carry on.

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“A lifetime devoted to creativity is nothing but a scavenger hunt — where each successive clue is another tiny little hit of curiosity. Pick each one up, unfold it, see where it leads you next.” —author ctk

This is such a sweet, tiny accomplishable notion: just let your curiosity lead you into your passion. Inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing, the somewhat anonymous author ctk has some great insight into “pursuing our passion,” when merely following our Curiosity will suffice, in the blog ctk’s new life. 

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“Art is anything you can get away with.” —Andy Warhol

Who am I? The creative soul continually inquires. In pondering the artist’s quest for a definable creative identity, Georgina Zinnio borrows Andy Warhol’s famous quote to describe what are universal struggles in An artist of the floating world*. Since I, too, often struggled with merely what to call myself—artist? writer? photographer? designer? creative professional? before finally landing recently upon “publisher”—this article resonated.

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“Set clear boundaries. Demonstrate flexibility once they’re set. Embrace your choices. Embrace yourself.” —Patrick Ross

Remaining authentic in your creative quest needs some common sense applied, and I found it in The Balance Between Authenticity and Creativity by Patrick Ross, who covers “creativity, writing and an art-committed life” in the Artist’s Road. Drawn to this blog by its journey-implied title (a theme I’m often exploring in writing and art), I found some practical advice for artists who practice ethics with their art. ♣

Your comments on balancing creative expression are welcomed. How do you find your own balance as you practice your art?

SEE WHAT I PRACTICE AT MY WEBSITE: JANNALEXANDER.COM