goal setting for creatives
This week’s theme has been ‘JUST START THE THING’
Call it the arrival of almost-Spring, the fact we’re heading into the last quarter of the year or some magic in the air, but I am so ready to quit mucking around and just get doing.
One of the biggest ways to get stuck on NEVER getting your ideas out there is the perfection / procrastination trap.
The one where you keep envisioning the final shiny result but never actually take action because that shiny result is actually a good year or two INTO the journey and well, you want to take the escalator, not the stairs!
I was chatting with a friend today and noticed right away the block that has been holding her back, the one that keeps her not feeling good about how to share her work and sitting on the fence with her content.
I knew because it’s the same one I have contended with ~ it’s the same one that whispered to me when I was filming a reel that it wasn’t ‘perfect’ enough and I should wait until I had a fancy background, better lighting, a microphone and IDK professional videographer skills.
You can’t edit a book as you’re writing it ~ the same goes for your content, website and offerings. The same goes for your artwork.
You need to act on those creative urges and just make stuff.
Put out the seedling version of what you eventually want to do, because if you don’t, you’ll be stopping before you ever started.
Getting the idea out into the Universe and world can feel scary. It’s safe in the incubator, in happy idea land where nobody can criticise, you don’t risk any kind of failure and it’s all just 'perfect and lovely forever and forever’
When it comes to working with your creative energy, working with the flow of it is more important than stressing about whether you’re going to finish it, whether it will be successful or whether it will be amazing the first time you do it.
It’s really important to just listen to those nudges, and see where it goes. Release the idea of a particular outcome and TRUST where you’re being guided.
As a Generator in Human Design, I personally find I NEED something to respond to ~ the feedback that comes to me through others, the opportunities that come when I am brave enough to share help me to navigate which direction to go.
If all my ideas just sit in a drawer, and I’m scared to show up because I worry about looking inconsistent while I figure it out…nothing is ever going to happen.
I’ve done human design sessions with ‘stuck’ creatives, who are often just not allowing themselves to go where their creativity wants to.
We put all these rules on ourselves ~ listening to the narratives that have grown into massive roadblocks in our heads.
The thing is, we really don’t KNOW alot of the time until we just begin, step into the act of creation and allow ourselves to feel into the process along the journey.
Some of us have a more linear process and get things done methodically.
ALOT of us have a very NON-LINEAR process and this needs to be embraced.
Ultimately, working on your projects should feel good and understanding the WHY behind what’s blocking you is important for showing up and sharing your work with the world.
How you approach this is up to you, but letting go of preconceived ideas of what the process should look like and creating a system that works for you is key.
As a 6/2, I need to take action and figure it out as I go ~ giving myself permission to just try things and back pedal or pivot when needed, really helps me to make progress and actually get something happening.
Usually things can start off in one direction and grow into something else.
Here are some areas I’ve noticed lead to stagnation with setting & taking action on the things that feel important to us:
Focusing too much on being perfect and comparing yourself to someone who is more established ~ this stops you from being fully rooted in your own journey and process.
Using idea overload to avoid taking action on the things you’ve already got going on ~ keeping a notebook to write down these hits is really important so I don’t lose my ideas but so I don’t go insane trying to do all of them at once.
Not quitting something when it’s sucking the soul out of your body ~ recognising that even if I’ve spent considerable time, energy and money on something, it’s okay to actually quit if I don’t feel excited by it. I can come back later if I want to, but it’s not being ‘flaky’ to stop something that really isn’t doing it for you.
Spending too much time online, in everyone else’s energy ~ your brain and body needs space to be immersed in your own energy. Unique insights that are only going to come through you can’t be heard or felt if you’re overloaded and overstimulated. Create boundaries for your social media use and notice when it drains you.
And if you’d like to dip into your human design type, here’s a little guide for working with your energy when it comes to goals:
Manifesting Generators
Faster paced, non-linear, happy spinning a few plates at the same time ~ you love to move quickly, pivot later so letting others around you know what’s happening can help make your path smoother when it comes to ticking off those goals.
It’s healthy for you to have multiple passions, so own it and don’t try to tame your inner wild child. Your goal setting can be a bit of this, a bit of that and a whole lotta party ~ embrace it and flow with the ride.
Pain point: Thinking if you condense yourself into one ‘niche’ or idea is the proper thing to do. For you, everything feeds and flows into one moving picture. Allow yourself to have as many strings as feels GOOD to you.
Generators
When you actually love what you’re doing, everything seems to flow. When you’re dragging yourself through the motions, it’s as fun as watching paint dry. To keep your creative flow happening, you need to focus on what is lighting you up and ditch the things that make you shudder (or feel like a giant NOPE in your body!).
Building something that feels meaningful to you will help you avoid burnout and frustration. This doesn’t have to be meaningful to anyone BUT you.
Pain point: Saying yes to things that feel like a ‘should’ ~ nothing makes you feel more like a flat balloon eeeking air out than this. Goal setting and starting for you looks like saying YES to what feels exciting and not overthinking it.
Projectors
You’re a magical master of energy, you can feel and see where it’s flowing...and where it’s not. Rest is important for you, taking on the energetic temperature of every room you walk into means you’re quick to see what’s needed and how to go about it.
Waiting to be invited by others is key to your creative flow ~ show up, share your work on your socials or however feels good and see who notices the goodness you’ve got going on.
Pain point: Don’t feel pressurised to create when you feel like resting, you can achieve something in less time because you’re naturally tuned in so ditch the idea of 9-5 hours.
Don’t let ‘being invited’ turn into ‘not shining your light’ ~ you can share your wisdom publicly.
Think of it as turning on your lighthouse ~ the invitation will happen when someone sees your brilliance and asks for your support, guidance or partnership.
Manifestors
You’ve got the lead, you love to initiate and take bold decisive action. You pave the way ~ you’re great at momentum, kicking things off and keeping it fresh. Trust, freedom and autonomy is HUGE for you, so let others know what you’re planning so you can get those goals happening.
Pain point: Don’t feel pressure to follow through on every idea or goal, you’re the spark that lights the flame and it’s helpful if you find someone who wants to carry the torch.
Your talent lies in initiating, and it can be tempting to just get the job done yourself however with the right connections and support, you can take your goals through to completion with more ease and less exhaustion!
Reflectors
Go with YOUR flow is your motto. Nothing gets by you ~ your wise attunement craves reflection and integration before taking action. You’re allowed to take your time, making space for timing to feel right before you act.
Working with a lunar cycle can feel incredibly supportive with your goal setting.
Pain point: You don’t have to make decisions quickly, the world runs at the speed of light and you’re absorbing it all.
What you see, notice and pick up on requires deeper insight and contemplation before taking action. Give yourself the time to absorb and you’ll intuitively know the right course of action to take.
Want to take a deeper dive into what might be keeping you NOT taking action on all those juicy, shiny dreams?
Book a Soul Sparks Session here and we’ll have a look at what’s coming up using your Human Design AND get a kickstart on mapping out those goals / plans!
Hi, I’m Megan ~ an illustrator and writer. I love oracle cards, identify with the artist/healer/witch archetypes, feminine business and creating beautiful artwork that brings joy ~ whether that’s bringing magic to your home or brand. I also offer 1:1 human design sessions for creatives, that help you uncover your own inner magic + apply it to your life/work. Learn more here.
