5 Years of Living a Life of Creativity

Blogger, Nherie Tellado

Lessons in Letting Go, Margin & Boundaries

When I started Living A Life Of Creativity as a blog in 2017, it was because I saw the need for me to create margin and boundaries of safety in my life, especially around my creativity. I became a student of my own journey. My goal wasn't to rank high on internet and social searches. It was and still is to create space for my unique creative experience. Writing and giving my voice room to express is a huge part of that growth for the past 5 years and worth a celebration. 

With that, I highlight a handful of lessons that were gained in my journey.  I hope one will bring to your own journey some light and direction. 

Saying no to work not connected to my skills and strengths or my own goals, saves energy and time. 

In the past, I spent too much time trying to make others appreciate the talent I had by giving too much free time and energy to their projects, initiatives and goals. Not realizing that in order for there to be a true collaborative effort, my own dreams, goals and passions had to be a part of equation and outcome. This left me quite drained and unfulfilled in parts of my journey.

It took some time, but I am now only saying yes when the outcome fulfils my goals too. If it sounds good only for one side and leaves me questioning where I fit in? I no longer accept those projects or if I find myself in the middle of a situation where I am sensing and seeing that I am no longer also a priority in the equation, I shift gears much faster. Sometimes that might mean ending an existing arrangement or it might mean a new conversation about what I need and seeing the changes through. 

Making more room for skill sets that support and will support a lifestyle of creativity is my priority. 

A creative life and lifestyle can, at times feel "outside the box".  It will not always line up with the current societal "norms" and will often be scrutinized by those who simply can't imagine living in a way that prioritizes creativity first. This becomes even more of a challenge when managing my choice in work and work habits that support not just my living but my creativity too. I understand and have deal with seasons where taking on the extra role to make ends meet temporarily, has had both a positive outcome and negative drawback. However, choosing to stay connected to creativity might also mean a season without the extra gig, because I know the outcome creatively will produce more for me longer-term. 

Less accessibility to the world and its chaos, while creating amongst its chaos is a part of healing. 

All the hacks, hustle and hype of life, without self discipline leaves you vulnerable to be whirled all over emotionally. After my separation and divorce in 2019, it was urgent that I recommit to healing parts of me that felt broken and without purpose. Leaning into my creativity meant that I would eventually have to create boundaries on my time and availability. 

As much as I wanted to be dive into markets that I felt I could excel in, I felt it was best to develop routines in my life that would help me heal first. Much of that healing took place in the form of creativity, whether journaling, creating art or using my gifts behind the scenes in my remote work. Part of this work was also relearning how to engage socially online and when to pull back. 

Working from a place of rest and healing than from a place of trauma and anxiety.

Sometimes letting go truly means a complete disconnect from "norms" that simply do not work for you anymore. Year 2022 held a great lesson through burnout, in perseverance and developing more trust in myself after months of navigating life after losing critical income for my household. I had to rely on my intuition to guide all my decisions when it came to how I worked, who I worked with and allowing my soul, spirit and emotions space to adjust to any kind of changes in my life, my finances and in the world. This meant I had to tune into my emotions more often and urged into rest and inner healing at the same time. 

Learning to be joyful about creativity, art and exploration through art.

Processes and journey work can feel long and unrewarding at first. It will depend on your personal creative goals. It takes patience, learning to self-love and actually practicing art in order to move through and passed the unknown. There were times I really didn't enjoy the inner work that was invoked through some of this work. I wasn't always ready to deal with insecurities and feelings of not being good enough. It's true though that continuous practice, does show you that you can produce great things. It can also show you what you aren't that good at, and this is O.K. too. I now embrace the good and the cringe of creativity. 

Simplifying work-life and home-life to prioritize myself and creativity. 

This is probably one of the most important areas that I know has had a tremendous positive effect on my wellbeing. The dishes did not always have to be washed, rooms cleaned, laundry done. Many days I'd chose to walk passed these things and head straight to the create table to put in work for me first. Even when deadlines and demands were imposed on my time by work that paid the bills, giving time to me first helped set the tone for the rest of the day or week. 

To anyone who has read posts, offered thoughts or shared anything creatively that I have made public, I offer my appreciation and thanks. My hopes is that over the next 5 years, with continued healing work and growth, I'll continue to share the light and love in a world that truly needs it.

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