It turns out that a lot of the challenges we face in our creative process also relate to life in general. Maybe that’s obvious, but it’s never been as clear to me as it is right now. Our past few monthly editorial themes have been particularly apt for the experiences we’re having during this pandemic (i.e. working from home + burnout). This month’s theme is resilience, which is crucial during times of adversity.
“Resilience is the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly. Resilience exists when the person uses ‘mental processes and behaviors in promoting personal assets and protecting self from the potential negative effects of stressors.’ In simpler terms, psychological resilience exists in people who develop psychological and behavioral capabilities that allow them to remain calm during crises/chaos and to move on from the incident without long-term negative consequences.” (Wikipedia)
Originally, I wanted to explore resiliency and how it relates to the creative process. I’ve found that after 10 years of working in the creative industry, resilience is one of the most important traits a person can have. In order to overcome rejection (something we also will write about this month), criticism, slow periods, etc., you need to build your tolerance for overcoming hardship. These hard times are inevitable, and learning how to stay focused and motivated is critical for playing the long game. Personally, I’ve found that dwelling on things that are going wrong doesn’t do any good. As good as it feels to whine, complain, compare, it isn’t going to do you any good even if it’s completely justified.
What’s inspiring during this incredibly hard time is seeing how resilient we are as a species—everyone coming together to stay positive, creative and hopeful for the future. I’m excited to explore ways in which we can build our resiliency, create space for change and growth, and how to bounce back from rejection.
*One of my favorite podcasts: How I Built This recently started a series called “How I Built Resilience” featuring various inspiring business people. It would be a good pairing with our content this month.
