Attention is a gift you give to your work


Horribly un-uplifting (down-lifting isn't a word for a reason). My words are typically framed in the guise of overcoming and championing, which is my pessimistic way of getting to write what I want with only a glimmer of hope at the end.

So what happens in the absence of negative emotions? I'm not talking about finally overcoming all of those self-confidence trials and tribulations to become an egomaniac (that’s another article altogether). But what happens when you find your "groove?" When you're sitting at your desk working and the muse actually shows up to whisper in your ear?



The negative moments can make it feel impossible to achieve the open space and attention required for brilliant creation. We tell ourselves we can't or we're not good enough and then let all those criticisms, fears and failures stream in. They can consume us. But then sometimes they don't. Their defences are not without cracks, and sometimes we see a light shining through and run screaming toward it with all our might, like a streaker across a football field.


I may not know how to create amazing work with every try (no one does), but I sure as hell know what it feels like, if briefly. There are pieces of writing, music and design I've done that I don't hate. Fleeting, proud moments. Those moments of inspiration make me feel like I'm myself (which shouldn't seem as foreign as it does). It feels like I've grasped my true voice and held onto it with all my strength, if only for a second. It feels a little frantic, too, as if the muse is always trying to get away.

But in those inspiring moments, I feel utterly present – so present that if I took even a microsecond to think about the feeling, I'd lose it. It's the sort of presence that holds no room for subconscious worries or multi-tasking thoughts.






Attention isn’t just about avoiding your neuroses (always a good thing); it means you're absolutely present and ready for your genius. It means you can get down to work and if the muse is feeling talkative, the work might turn out brilliantly.

