​​Creating intentions for your creative practice is a powerful way to enhance your artistic journey and achieve meaningful outcomes.  Below, I explore the importance of setting intentions, how to craft them effectively, and the impact they can have on your creative process.

Understanding Intentions in Creativity

Intentions serve as guiding principles that align your actions with your desired outcomes. In the realm of creative practices, they act as a compass, helping you navigate through the vast sea of possibilities. By defining your intentions, you bring clarity to your artistic vision and set the stage for a purposeful journey.

The Benefits of Setting Intentions

Clarity and Focus: Intentions provide a clear roadmap for your creative endeavors. They help you define your goals and focus your energy on what truly matters to you.
Motivation and Inspiration: Knowing why you engage in a particular creative pursuit fuels your motivation. Intentions serve as a wellspring of inspiration, keeping you driven during challenging times.
Alignment with Values: Your intentions are a reflection of your values and beliefs. Aligning your creative practice with these values adds depth and authenticity to your work.
Measurable Progress: Crafted intentions often come with measurable outcomes. This allows you to track your progress, celebrate achievements, and make adjustments as needed.

How to Create Effective Intentions

Reflect on Your Purpose: Begin by reflecting on why you engage in your creative practice. What drives you? What do you hope to achieve? Clarifying your purpose sets the foundation for meaningful intentions.
Be Specific and Realistic: Intentions should be specific and achievable. Instead of broad statements, break down your goals into concrete actions. This makes it easier to stay on track.
Positive Framing: Phrase your intentions positively. Focus on what you want to create or achieve rather than what you want to avoid. Positive framing fosters a constructive mindset.
Write Them Down: Document your intentions in writing. Whether it's a journal, a vision board, or a digital document, having a tangible record reinforces your commitment.

Integrating Intentions into Your Creative Process

Daily Reflection: Take a few moments each day to revisit your intentions. Reflect on how your actions align with them and make adjustments as needed.
Incorporate Rituals: Develop rituals that mark the beginning or end of your creative sessions. This can include setting an intention before starting or expressing gratitude after completing a session.
Community Engagement: Share your intentions with fellow creatives or friends. Building a supportive community can enhance accountability and provide valuable insights.

Setting intentions for your creative practice is a transformative process that goes beyond mere goal-setting. It's about infusing purpose into every brushstroke, keystroke, or note. By embracing this intentional approach, you not only elevate your artistic output but also cultivate a more fulfilling and meaningful creative journey.

Image: Me at a local gallery in March 2022, where both of my artworks sold.l

​In 2022, I had one of my best years yet regarding reaching my creative goals.  In one year, I was able to reach some creative milestones that I never was able to otherwise.  I realize that this year was a bit unusual but then I realize that because I took time to actually set my creative goals instead of leaving everything to the wind, I was able to make and exceed my goals with my creative life this year. 

This year I am able to celebrate that:

• My work was featured in four group art exhibitions (two juried), one of which two of my artworks sold, and two of my artworks was used to promote the exhibitions by the host;
• Four of my poems were officially published in a anthology featuring women poets  (which officially be launched in 2023);
• My art has been published in a local art center's 2023 calendar featuring the art of other members.
• I completed my first draft of my book for midlife creatives. 

How did I do it?

There were a few things I did early in 2022 that helped me establish and stay focused on my goals.  Here's a few of them:

1. Established "My Why":  I established what my "why" would be for my creativity in 2022.  This was the basis for all I did creatively in 2022.
2. Visualization:  I envisioned how I wanted to show up as a creative in 2022.   I thought about what I wanted to accomplish and how I wanted to feel as a result.
3. Intentions:  After I visualized what I wanted, I set intentions.  I used those intentions to create a mandala vision board to visually represent what I wanted to accomplish.
4. Set Goals:  Based on what I wanted to achieve, I set goals based on due dates for submission dates for my art or poetry.  I worked hard to reach these goals and was able to make all submission dates on time.  
5. Prioritize My Creative Life:  I made time as a appropriate to make my creativity a priority when it made sense to.
6. Micro-Movements:  I set tasks and steps to reach my goals in small steps without overwhelming myself.  If there was no progress, I didn't punish myself.  I allowed myself space to enable my muse to inspire and direct me to what I needed to do when I needed to do it. 
7. Support:  I had colleagues that helped me stay accountable to my goals.  Whether it was individuals or a creative community, I had reminders that helped me as guideposts along the way.

​Let Me Show You How You Can Do It

Did your schedule prevent you from reaching your creative goals this year?
Do you have the urge to start pursuing your creativity but been holding back due to fear?
Not sure how to make your creative goals happen in 2023?

No matter how creative or "un-creative" you consider yourself to be, there's always room for inspiration and improvement.

If you are an artist, writer, author, creative, maker and 2022 left you a little exhausted and uninspired, join me for a fun and engaging workshop where we will:

Get clear on your creative "whys"
Cover a few tips and practices to "spark" your creativity
Help you find time and ways to get your creative practice in during the day or week.
Develop a strategic plan to get you going creatively for 2023

​This workshop will be offered on January 8th.  Register by January 7th to be able to receive all materials.  Materials including a workbook will be sent out prior to the event. We will gather on Zoom and a link will be sent within 24 hours of the workshop. 

EXTRA BONUS: You have the option to meet with me for one-to-one coaching for the new year as well!
​
Join me by clicking the button below and let's get going on making some wonderful creative dreams a reality in 2023!