Some of us are lucky to have aligned our creative passions with our jobs. 

Others, not so much. The more commitment and time we put into that job, the more it seeps into our personal lives, leaving less time for our creative passions. 

If you’re anything like me, you unconsciously let your passions slip from your center, leaving you feeling, well, a tad empty. Maybe, you don’t even realize this has happened. 

But, like a thunderstrike, the cloud of realization finally comes down on you. 

I need to create. I need to write. I need to share. 

That’s great! You know what you need.

But, now comes the tricky part. 

How do you prioritize your creative passions?

It’s all in the habits that allow you to accomplish your job while also providing you the satisfaction of being able to tell others, without feeling like a fraud, I am a creator. I do X every day, week, month – whatever works for you.

In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey shares tools that allow you to courageously embrace your creative self. 

If your goal is to build lasting habits that stick, to be top-notch at work while making space for your creative self, then read on.

Today, I’ll recap the 7 Habits and how I’ve used them to recenter my creative passion while maintaining my full-time job.

As you read, consider how you can use Covey’s 7 Habits to build actionable steps towards your goals.

Covey believes that if we want to change ourselves, we must be willing to change our perceptions and assumptions. From there, we can change a situation. 

So, if my perception is that teaching is taking over my personal life. That’s my reality. I’ve dug myself into a deep hole and can’t climb out until I alter my perception. 

That’s where the 7 Habits come in. It’s time for me to change my mindset, not just my behaviour. No band-aid solutions here. Lasting change is what we’re going for.

There are two types of people: Reactive and Proactive. 

Reactive people are influenced by their feelings and circumstances. They often express themselves through negative self-talk- I can’t change what happens to me.

Proactive people take responsibility for what they can do. They focus on their circle of influence rather than the circle of concern (what they can’t control). Proactive people use positive self-talk- I can choose my response in this situation.

• Reactive Self-Talk: I have to finish my report cards at home. There’s no time at work. No time to write my novel. Goodbye weekend.
• Proactive Self-Talk: What are my alternatives? What if I chunk the report cards and block out time at work and home? What if I take a personal day off of work dedicated to report cards?

Rewriting reactive self-talk into proactive self-talk allows you to zero in on the belief systems you unconsciously feed your brain. Once you’re aware of the thoughts barring your progress, you can open yourself up to acknowledging what you can change and then seek solutions that align with your creative pursuits.

When you have a clear vision of your destination then every step of the way, you align your routine to that vision. You take some opportunities and leave others, satisfied that it’s the right choice for you.

Covey states that many of us focus on busy work, constantly achieving surface-level goals (ie. promotions, higher salaries, etc.).

Instead, we should begin with a clear idea of our goals and personal mission statement (what truly matters to you). 

To ensure that we are on the right path, following our values, we need to detect what is at the center of our life (spouse, family, money, work, possession, pleasure, friend, enemy, church, self).

Your personal mission statement is strong when it aligns with your center.

My mission is to live a creative, soulful, and courageous life.

To fulfill this mission: 

I intend to be a lifelong learner.

I make time and space for my creative passions each week.

I spend time in nature- alone and silent.

I am a caring friend and family member. I listen, I hear, I am there.

I say “yes” to opportunities that fit my life path.

I try what scares me yet inspires me.

If you want your creative passion to be the center of your life, align your mission statement with this goal.

Many people prioritize their daily tasks based on what is urgent, not on what is most important. 

Maintaining your focus on your value-based goals allows you to prioritize what is important.

Personal values can fall by the wayside in our busy work cultures. To manage this, we need to learn to say “no” to some tasks and to delegate others. 

From there, you can organize your long-term goals around your mission statement and review this as you build your weekly plan. 

Covey states that effective people spend more time in the space between not urgent but important. They are planning and relationship building, essentially preparing in advance for future needs.

Goal #1: Complete rough draft of manuscript

-set timer for 30 minutes. Write. Write more if I wish.

Goal #2:  Blog post for 7 Habits

-revise my personal mission statement (Monday)

-Share my goals snapshot as in my planner (Tuesday)

-copy/paste blog mission for readers in the post (Wednesday)

Would Love to Do:

-Dance workout on Thursday

-Gather tax documents

Begin by prioritizing your creative pursuits. Consider centering your list around goals with a little extra space for would be nice to do if there’s time.

To build strong, effective relationships, you must seek out solutions that are beneficial to all involved. When one person loses, the relationship is negatively impacted, influencing future interactions.

When looking for win/win solutions, consider:

• An Abundance Over Scarcity Mindset: When we believe that there is plenty out there for everyone (abundance mentality) then we are driven to become collaborative solution seekers.

• Problems and Results: When we focus on the underlying problems and search for results that benefit both parties, we seek to maintain open and supportive relationships.

• Goals and Values: Understanding our goals and values, even if they differ, allows us to be active participants in each other’s successes and maintain the focus on our personal mission statements.

• The Third Alternative: It doesn’t have to be my way. It doesn’t have to be your way. If we put enough time and effort into problem-solving together, we may just find a better way.

Mission: What value do I hope to bring my readers through my content?

I want to start this blog to share my thoughts on writing and my creative/mindful journey. To talk about story with others. Maybe someone will learn from my journey.

I hope to inspire others to take up writing and share their work. To create a quiet space for themselves, to think about what ifs and ideas bigger than them. To give them little tips/ tricks to try out. To learn from each other. Share writing/ self-publishing journey. Share balancing life: goals, productivity, mental health, self-care, creativity.

Before I started the blog, I spent about a month journaling. I realized that I would need to give back to my readers.

So, with every blog post, I check that this idea brings value to you. 

If you’re here and happy, then I get to keep writing! A win/win situation.

How many times do you catch yourself drafting a reply while you are supposed to be listening to someone speak?

Before we can offer solutions, suggestions, or advice, we must first listen empathically with a commitment to understanding the other person’s needs and perspectives. Here, we are not listening with the intent to reply, but with the intent to understand.

When our perspectives differ, we give credibility to our ideas and suggestions by first seeking to understand their position. Then, we express our points through a lens that they understand.

When they pick up this novel, they are curious to know how a human can be a significant protagonist in a world that is filled with magical beings who appear more powerful than her. By the novel’s end, they are satisfied with the protagonist’s character arc and side characters’ stories despite the gut-wrenching moments. For days later, they revisit their favourite scenes, asking themselves how the story would change if the characters knew certain key information. They wonder what will happen next.

I write stories because I want to read that book. I write about what interests me.

Somewhere down the line, I began thinking about sharing my stories with the world. And things got scary.

My negative self-talk roared its head: What if it’s boring? What if I’m a bad writer? What if no one cares?

Then, I came across the idea of identifying your story’s ideal reader. 

And it clicked! 

I can still write what engages me, but by knowing what my potential readers…

• Want to feel
• Are attracted to
• Need

I can fine-tune any story so that they feel understood. As if they could put down the book and say “That is exactly what I was looking for!”

I can intertwine what I want to share and what they wanted to devour.

Your perspective can bring limitations. It can be a one-track mindset and a singular solution builder.

When you are open to the perspectives of others, have built a trusting relationship, and plan to communicate effectively (seek first to understand, then to be understood), you open yourself up to new possibilities that you may not have thought of on your own.

When we combine the previous 5 habits, we create synergy. Synergy allows us to work collaboratively and creatively to seek new ways of doing. 

We learn that it’s not either/or. We seek to solve problems together, working to create an alternative that serves all needs and builds further trust in the relationship. 

We value our differences, trust openly, and search for the “aha moment” from the same side of the problem.

We miss many opportunities for synergy when we aren’t following the previous habits.

On first reading this book, I imagined face-to-face encounters that create synergy. But, we interact just as often with others in digital spaces today. Sometimes, the conversation feels one-sided: the content creator presents their information, and the viewer consumes it.

If done right, we are left thinking further about what we view. We check our perspectives against theirs. We search for that “aha moment”.

December 2022: While reading a YA novel, I did my usual deep dive into the author. I discovered that she had self-published her first novel. That tiny kernel cemented itself in my subconscious.

January 2023: I came across a YouTuber who explained her decision to self-publish. I learned about the benefits of self-publishing. I also learned that getting traditionally published might not be all you’d expect.

I had my “aha moment.” I didn’t need to wait to be traditionally published or never have my manuscripts greet the world. I could self-publish my novels! 

My perspective had blocked this solution from my consciousness for so long. I wasn’t open to alternatives. That synergistic thunderclap couldn’t be heard until I put these habits into practice.

We must make time each day to renew ourselves physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially/emotionally if we are to maintain our motivation. 

Balance in these areas creates space for us to continue to practice each habit, to be highly effective in our creative goals and each area of our lives.

Renewal allows space for growth and change. When we can improve one habit, we find it easier to improve the rest.

Physical: 

• Rest: Eight hours a night, no less. I love waking up feeling ready to greet the day.
• Exercise: Dog walks, yoga, and Zumba keep me happy to return to this habit each week.

Spiritual:

• Morning Meditation: I start my mornings with a short guided meditation to keep my brain from spinning.
• Out in Nature: Rupert and I sit on the park bench, turn our faces to the sun, and listen to the birds’ twitter.

Mental:

• Journal: When I get all the thoughts out of my head and onto the page, I feel lighter.
• Continuing Education: Podcasts, nonfiction books, and online courses keep me learning.

Social/Emotional:

• Family: I call home daily and speak to other family members weekly.
• Friends: My girlfriends and I started up biweekly Zoom nights.

 Choose the habits that are right for you at this moment in your life.

Building new habits can be challenging. Building 7 habits may sound insurmountable. Woven together, these habits make it easier to move toward positive personal change.

Take your time. Figure out what works for you. Practice these habits daily and you will find lasting change.

Which habit do you think is the most life-changing?  Have you encountered any synergy in your life that guided you toward your creative passion? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Take this opportunity to set some goals around your creative passions. 

Want more information on the 7 Habits? This podcast may be your next way to Sharpen the Saw!

Talk soon!

Julia