Cultivating My Creativity (Creative Editorial Photography, Greenville, SC)

I want to keep growing. After all, growth is part of the cycle of life and seems a natural inclination for any of us to have, right? Of course I can easily confuse the discontent I can have in life as my "need for growth". But that would just be hiding behind a "righteous goal" that has little to do with true growth, and more to do with not living in the present—content to leave the past in the past, and the future up to…. well, something much bigger than I.

But there is a yearning for growth that IS natural and good. This type of growth is part of my "exploration wiring" that begs me to ask "what if?" and "I wonder?" But how to grow is as important as the actual need. I have found that all growth involves effort, and most of that effort comes with it's own special form of "growth pain" that helps refine the process.

Recently, wonderful spirits have entered my life and stirred my need for growth. These souls are creatives I have come to know and respect, and who for the most part, don't realize the impact they are having on me. It's hard to push past how I normally "see" and try to achieve a new "style of sight" in which to interpret my creative world. But with patience and an open mind, growth is happening.

Something I've started doing is asking questions without judgement or expectation. When asking in this way, I open myself up to solid growth. This means resisting my need to defend my artistic decisions or trying to validate my current point of view. If I want to keep my point of view, there really is no need to ask another person for advice in the first place. But asking for the sake of further pondering is healthy, and a key way I'm continuing on in my creative path.

Free yourself from the need to validate yourself and see if you don't find growth within your own vulnerability!

much love,
-TJ

*This was an editorial style image I shot of Eric Brown for Eric Brown Interiors and TOWN magazine.
Eric is a source of inspiration flowing with amazing creative rhythms. His mind is fascinating to my own soul and is someone who instills a desire in my own creative growth.