The 5 Stages of the Creative Process

Being an artist sucks sometimes.

If you’ve ever created anything, you know what I mean. This is how it usually goes for me: I’ll pull a seemingly random assortment of thoughts and ideas from the aether and meticulously compile them into a visual, sonic, or written form of expression. This is promptly followed by a tidal wave of dopamine that convinces me, once and for all, of my undeniable genius. Then I see vivid visions of the wild success that will undoubtedly accompany such brilliant work, and I'll bask in the certainty that my art will change the world. Make an impact. Touch people. Elevate my life. This part does not suck.

But then, something happens. Maybe I overplay my song, nitpicking over minutia until I can’t actually feel the music anymore. Maybe I obsess over the color palette of my graphic design till my eyes cross. Maybe I proofread and edit my writing so many times that words no longer make s3~Ns3 (me, writing this, right now). Or perhaps I get difficult feedback and don't know how to take the criticism.

Whatever the reason(s), in my effort to polish and perfect this humble little piece of my soul, painstakingly packaging and placing it on a platter for all the world to opinionate upon, I’ve lost sight of what inspired me to make it in the first place. I can't see the magic anymore, and sometimes it's so bad that I want to just give up. This part sucks. A lot.

So, as a way to deal with it and *not* just give up, I devised the 5 Stages of the Creative Process. They are:

1. Inspiration

2. Creation

3. Doubt

4. Integration

5. Completion

Which becomes I.C.D.I.C. or in other words, “I see, doubt, I see”. It goes something like this:

It's an unavoidable cycle if you are a creative person who is at all self-critical. Every artist I know struggles with moments of debilitating insecurity and immense fear that saps their energy. It can be frustrating, lonely, and discouraging. First off, I want you to know that if you ever feel this way, you are NOT alone! Hopefully knowing the 5 stages can help you make lemonade from some of those arduous moments.

Let’s break them down, shall we?

INSPIRATION: this is the glorious creative spark. That elusive gift of the muses that sets our wheels turning and our hearts pumping. It can come from any source, hit at any moment, and is often as fleeting as the weekend (where does the time go?!). PSA: write everything down, even the questionable stuff. Inspiration is the most important step, because without it, we would have no ideas to manifest as art.

CREATION: this is the part where you put pen to paper, or fingers to frets, or paint to canvas, and get to making things. It’s what most artists live for, because you experience what I like to refer to as the “flow”, kind of like the artistic equivalent to a runner’s high. You get into a timeless zone where everything disappears except you and the muses and the art, and all seems right in the world. This is the bread and butter of art-making, and where we (hopefully) spend a lot of our time.

DOUBT: I call this critical stage the Valley of Shadow, as in, "as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil", or "beyond a shadow of a doubt" (except in this case, we aren't beyond it yet, and we still kind of fear the evil). This is where you become partially or entirely consumed by fear, insecurity, anxiety, or self-criticism. It's normal, and pretty inevitable when you're making work born of raw vulnerability.

If you are a person who ascribes to any kind of new-age spirituality, you're likely familiar with the concept of “shadow work”. This refers to the process of excavating the dark and repressed parts of you in order to shed light on them. Basically, it's what therapy is made for. In my experience, shadow work must be done in art-making as well. It is absolutely crucial to face any doubts and insecurities about your work head-on, otherwise they will haunt you subconsciously and you will struggle to cope with negative feedback. Just like in personal shadow work, shining light on the deepest, most uncomfortable thoughts you have about your art will strengthen your resolve for when you get to the next stage.

Tips for navigating the Valley of Shadow:

>>> DO NOT RUN

Our natural tendency when faced with painful thoughts and feelings is to ignore, repress, or avoid them in order to protect ourselves. This habit is counterproductive, as it makes you defensive and stunts your growth. Turning to face those thoughts and feelings instead is the most essential part of shadow work. In fact, I've found it's super effective to take it a step further and actively chase down my fears. Just like in a nightmare, you are in control, and these emotions can't actually hurt you. Seek out your weakness to integrate it so that surprise blows have nowhere to land.

>>> Remember, this is temporary

The ancient Buddhist philosophy of impermanence (or anitya) teaches that nothing is constant or permanent; that all things come into being, change, and dissolve. Modern physics and the theories of chaos prove it. Luckily, this stage of the creative process is no different, no matter how intense the feelings are. In fact, the intensity of the doubt phase is often in direct proportion to the level of vulnerability of the art. So if you're really going through it, trust that it's for a very good reason, and it won't last forever.

INTEGRATION: as an extension of shadow work, integration is the means by which you inventory, analyze, and apply the valuable lessons and knowledge gleaned from the excavation process of the doubt stage. Walking through the Valley of Shadow with your eyes wide open shows you what monsters are hiding there so you can face them. Successful integration releases your fear of them and by effect, turns them into allies while building your resilience.

A rad side effect of integration is that it crafts a magical set of impenetrable armor that reinforces your confidence, one golden nugget of wisdom at a time. The best part is that this armor is weightless, invisible, and never corrodes, so every time you go through the stages, you'll be building on the armor from previous integrations.

Tips for building badass armor:

>>> Turn coal into diamonds

You can create strength from weakness by compressing coal unearthed during the doubtful times using the industrial-strength triad of compassion, acceptance, and unconditional love. Shower those insecurities with affirming mantras. Calm any fears with tea made from belief in yourself. Bathe your anxiety in a soothing soak of self-care. Never let up on the compaction of this super-powered trio, and watch the diamonds multiply.

>>> Write down what you learned

Regardless of your chosen medium, writing is an extremely powerful way to organize your thoughts. Journaling is one of the most effective tools for integration, whether you utilize prompts, free write in a stream-of-consciousness, or use my favored "Q&A" method, in which you ask yourself questions and answer them until you have the clarity you need.

Example prompts for integrating doubt:

Describe specific feelings, thoughts, fears, insecurities, and physical sensations that came up while going through the doubt stage. What do they have to teach me? Was it different than my previous experiences with this stage? If so, how? What, if anything, is holding me back in my creative process? How can I release my fears? What wisdom can I add to my impenetrable armor?

Completion: hooray! Your work is finished and in the world. Breathe many many sighs of relief. Celebrate loudly. Gaze upon your creation and recall the labor of love that brought you here. Remain grateful for the process and fuel up for your next endeavor. Lather, rinse, repeat!

Note: keep in mind the doubt phase may come up multiple times, in varying levels of intensity, before the work or project is finished. If you make sure to always follow a doubt phase with integration, you will get to completion.

So the next time you feel that familiar wave of anxiety coming over you, take a deep breath and remember "I see, doubt, I see". Know that it's a natural part of the process, it's temporary, and it has a lot of wisdom to offer. Lastly, and most importantly, don't forget to believe in yourself no matter what. That unwavering faith will carry you through the most pesky and paralyzing of self-doubt spells. You got this, fellow creatonaut. I believe in you. Go fourth and conquer your fears! The world needs your art!