Harnessing Intuition To Fuel Your Creative Career
Written by Ariel Grace Snapp, Creativity Coach
Ariel Grace Snapp has always been a multi-passionate creative balancing service and the expressions of her soul. She’s a coach for creatives, a tech creative director, intuitive and MacroFloral photographer and host of the Creatively Free podcast.
In the sprawling expanse of creativity, intuition is like an internal compass, guiding artists and creators through the fog of possibilities to unearth their truest expressions. But how do you tune into this subtle inner voice, and more importantly, how can it guide your creative career? Here are insights into tapping into your intuition and allowing it to lead your creative endeavors.
Trusting your gut: The first step to intuitive creation
Intuition, often called 'gut feeling', is your subconscious mind synthesizing information faster than your conscious mind can process. In the realm of creativity, this means catching those fleeting sparks of inspiration that seem to come from nowhere.
Psychologist and researcher Joel Pearson suggests that to enhance intuitive abilities, one must increase exposure to a wide range of experiences that can feed the subconscious mind.
Silence as a canvas
To truly hear your intuition, you need silence. The modern world buzzes with noise which can drown out the delicate whispers of intuitive insight. Create a practice of spending time in silence daily. Whether it's a quiet stroll through nature or a dedicated meditation session, these moments of stillness are where intuition finds its voice.
Dreams: The window to the subconscious
The connection between dreams and creativity is well-documented. Salvador Dalí and many other artists have harnessed their dreamscapes to fuel their artworks. Keep a dream journal by your bedside. Often, what feels like random dream imagery can be an intuitive leap into creative solutions or ideas. Research from Harvard University underscores the role of REM sleep in enhancing creativity by forming associative networks.
Intuitive journaling: Dialoguing with your inner self
Intuitive journaling differs from regular journaling in that it focuses on free-flowing thoughts without censorship or structure. This practice can be particularly revealing for understanding your emotional and intuitive landscape. Let your hand write without pause, and over time, you'll start noticing patterns that can guide your creative decisions.
Using intuition in creative careers
When making career decisions, it's tempting to rely solely on logical reasoning. However, integrating intuition can lead to choices that are more aligned with your true passions and potential. For instance, choosing projects that feel inherently right, even if they don't offer immediate benefits, can open paths to fulfilling, impactful work.
Discerning between intuition and instinct
While often used interchangeably, intuition and instinct are distinct in their nature and function. Instinct is primal and rooted in survival—think of it as an inborn drive compelling you towards certain actions, like the fight-or-flight response. Intuition, on the other hand, is subtler and taps into the creative and cognitive processes. It's about connecting dots based on learned experiences and deep-seated knowledge that isn't immediately accessible to the conscious mind.
Trusting this inner guidance system means understanding when it's your intuition speaking, rather than fear or mere impulse. It involves recognizing the calm, affirming quality that accompanies intuitive thoughts, as opposed to the urgent, often anxiety-driven nature of instinct. A reliable way to gauge this is to notice the feelings associated with your thoughts: intuition often brings a sense of rightness or coherence, even if the direction it suggests isn't entirely clear. Developing this discernment can empower you to make decisions that align more closely with your creative aspirations and deeper values.
Practical steps to integrate intuition
Routine reflection: Regularly reflect on your decisions and feelings about your creative projects.
Mindful creation: Engage in activities like mindfulness to stay connected with your inner feelings and thoughts.
Feedback loops: Share your work with a trusted circle and notice your instinctual reactions to their feedback.
In the creative sector, where unique expression is paramount, listening to your intuition isn't just helpful; it's essential. It enriches your work with authenticity and can guide your career to unforeseen peaks.
To dive deeper into how intuition can transform your creative journey, check out my podcast where we explore these themes with various creatives who have walked this path.
If you’d like to receive support from Ariel Grace check out her Be as Art Business Immersion for creatives ready to jumpstart their next iteration of their career or creative business.
Ariel Grace Snapp, Creativity Coach
Ariel Grace Snapp has always been a multi-passionate creative balancing service and the expressions of her soul. She’s a coach for creatives, a tech creative director, intuitive and MacroFloral photographer and host of the Creatively Free podcast. She is particularly interested in co-creating new, collaborative ways to solve social challenges across different sectors. As founder of the Be as Art Business Academy, she offers a depth based journey of the mystical and practical tools for creatives and sensitive people that are ready to birth and scale their huge creative, mission driven projects.
References:
Pearson, J. "Intuition, the Subconscious, and Creativity," Journal of Psychological Research.
"The Role of REM Sleep in Creativity," Harvard University, Sleep Studies Department.
