What’s your creative identity? If this the first time that you ask yourself this question, let me give you a starting point: consistency is an element of it. It’s a superpower that is yours to discover. It’s present in the small things you do every single day to move forward with your creative projects.
Actually, the ‘small’ things, are not so small.
I accumulated small but consistent habits that ultimately led to results that were unimaginable when I started.
James Clear
Consistency is born from building habits. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, is well known for his insights on tiny changes that bring remarkable results. His work has introduced profound perspectives on identity-based habits for lasting change. Among his many notable proposals is the idea of creating a new identity that reflects the behaviour of the creative person you want to be.
How is creative identity linked to consistency, and how does that help? According to Clear, you’ve got to start believing new things about yourself and prove them through small repeated wins.
So, first of all, define: who do you want to become as a creative person?
Let’s say your answer is “I want to be a great writer and self-publish my books”. Then, your small win involves showing up on a steady basis to write a full book: writing a page a day, or 1,000 words a day if you have the time.
A couple more small wins:
- Gaining knowledge on the process of self-publishing through different platforms and assessing advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Learning about freelance editors that can help you edit your book once it’s finished.
If you can learn to do something consistently, you’ll tap into a much greater superpower than the habit itself: the belief that you’re completely capable of changing your behaviour.
Before seeking any immediate results, focus on being the person who can achieve the goals you want to.
If you’re struggling to create this identity, keep asking yourself questions.
Factors that Damage Creative Identity
It’s critical to not confuse consistency with other concepts or behaviours. You are building habits that work in your favour and that allow you to shape your creative identity.
Here’s three aspects to consider:
Consistency is not starting something new frequently
Starting something, drop it and later on proceed with a completely new project every month is not consistency.
There has to be a clear start and a clear end in your creative cycle. There could be various iterations when you need a new direction or when you truly need to start over. Make sure your vision is crystal clear in this regard.
Consistency does not necessarily mean daily
You have a lot of activities on the go. Sometimes, it’s not possible to work on your craft every single day at the exact same hour. Only you know your schedule. Only you can decide how often you’re going to show up for your project on any given day. However, as long as you can move forward or make some kind of progress is enough.
So, sometimes you’ll be able to write a page every day of the week. Other times, you’ll only complete a page twice a week. You might not be actively writing at your desk, but you took some notes on what’s next for your story while waiting for your turn at the doctor’s office.
Like Confucius said, it doesn’t matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
Consistency is not Intensity
Intensity refers to the amount of effort you put in an activity. It can help you achieve your goals and keep you moving forward; however, too much of it can lead to lose focus or deplete you.
When you’re trying to be consistent with your work, what matters most is that you show up as often as you can. Intensity is a great element to add in a healthy dose.
Always remember: A little bit at a time is enough. Your mental health is top priority, and therefore, building your creative identity is not meant to lead to burnout. When you’re considering to increase the intensity of your work, ask yourself if this is an essential move to keep making progress.
What do you think?