Feature Article: UnPlugged

Each issue of half baked generally takes me 8-10 hours to produce. This issue, I'm attempting something new. For this issue, I've unplugged my computer. I'm running on battery only. I'll only plug back in, if necessary, to send this issue out. Wish me luck. I have less than 3 hours!

I've already named the feature article, and I like it very much. Sometimes the article titles comes in advance, other times it comes as I write.

When a word catches my attention, I generally look it up in the dictionary. Unfortunately, my dictionary is not in my office today, so I'll have to wing it.

Plugged means something similar to being stopped or held in. Unplugged, then, must mean flowing. Funny, I thought the title was referring to my computer. :-)

Yes, its true, I plug up my ideas and my creativity. I'm always trying to figure out "the plan" on how my ideas are going to be introduced into the world, or how they fit into my bigger vision.

I ask what details, what actions, what sequence of events would be most favorable and likely to contribute to the "success" of each of the ideas.

Because of this, many of my ideas don't make it into the world. You see, it is impossible to plan everything, and a part of me knows this.

My job is to simply let my ideas flow into the world. I've tried the alternative, and I know it doesn't work for me. Bottling things may work for Coca Cola, but it isn't working for me.

My job is to follow the ideas that bring me joy, that I find fascinating or compelling, or those I am simply curious about. My job is to pay attention, act upon those, and see where they take me.

Clearly, not all great ideas are meant to be acted upon. And at the same time, every idea doesn't have to be "great" for me to act upon.

This doesn't mean that I'll have any more or any less ideas than I have now. It simply means that how far the ideas flow into the world is out of my control. Ah, that feels great!

From this moment on, I'm unplugged...




p.s. Interested or have comments? Email me here...

Creativity Quote

"Never do I have to find the way. If I recognize what interests me, and follow that, it is my way. My desires will lead me unfailingly. My destiny will always remain where it can been seen quite plainly, within what I want. The alternative is to accept what I am told even though I believe it conflicts with my deepest yearnings."

- Hugh Prather, THERE IS A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE NOT ALONE

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