In the world of creativity, burnout can sneak up on us, draining our energy and passion. As artists and creatives, our work is deeply tied to who we are, making burnout especially tough to handle. But there's hope in self-leadership, guiding us toward more balanced and fulfilling lives.
The concept of self-leadership emerged from the field of organisational psychology in the late 20th century. I first found out about it when I was at university studying for my Social Psychology degree, and it has helped me in my own life too.
It was initially developed as a framework to understand how individuals can take proactive steps to manage their own behaviour and achieve their goals, particularly in the workplace. Over time, the principles of self-leadership have been adapted and applied to various domains, including personal development, creativity, and well-being.
Self-leadership is about taking charge of our thoughts, emotions, and actions. It's about steering our own lives with resilience and purpose. By embracing self-leadership, we can cultivate a mindset of growth, even in tough times.
There are different models of self-leadership, each offering insights into how we can live more fulfilling lives. One such model is the Four-Component Model, focusing on self-awareness, goal setting, reinforcement, and cueing. These components help us build a strong foundation for personal growth.
Self-Awareness:
Self-awareness is key. It means tuning into our thoughts and emotions without judgment. For artists, it's about recognising signs of burnout early and taking steps to prevent it.
Goal Setting:
Setting meaningful goals keeps us focused and motivated. Whether it's finishing a project or learning a new skill, clear goals help us stay on track.
Reinforcement:
Celebrating our successes and progress boosts our morale and resilience. By cultivating a positive inner dialogue, we can stay motivated through challenges.
Cueing:
Creating external reminders helps us stay aligned with our goals. Whether it's setting up a workspace or establishing a routine, these cues keep us on track.
An example of self-awareness in the context of creativity is recognising the impact of our daily routines and commitments on our ability to pursue our artistic passions.
I put these principals at the centre of all the spaces I've design to help maximise our chances of gaining authentic joyous creativity.
This is an example of how creatives can use the Self Leadership Model.
Part 1: Self-Awareness
An example of self-awareness in the context of creativity is recognising the impact of our daily routines and commitments on our ability to pursue our artistic passions.
For instance, imagine a poet who longs to write but finds themselves constantly busy with work, family obligations, and other responsibilities. Despite their deep desire to create, they struggle to find the time and energy to sit down and write.
Part 2. Goal Setting
To address this challenge, they can apply the principles of self-leadership by setting clear and achievable goals. Rather than waiting for the perfect moment to write, they can identify specific times and spaces in their schedule dedicated to poetry. This might involve carving out small pockets of time each day or designating a quiet corner of their home as a writing sanctuary.
Part 3: Reinforcement
As they begin to prioritise their creative pursuits, the poet can reinforce their commitment by celebrating even the smallest victories along the way. Whether it's writing a single line of verse or completing a rough draft of a poem, each step forward is worthy of recognition and praise. By acknowledging their progress and perseverance, they can bolster their confidence and motivation to continue writing, even in the face of obstacles.
Part 4: Cueing
Finally, the poet can create external cues or reminders to support their writing practice and keep themselves accountable. This might involve setting up a writing routine, such as writing first thing in the morning or before bed, or using visual cues like placing a notebook and pen on their bedside table.
By incorporating these cues into their daily life, the poet can signal to themselves that writing is a priority and create the conditions for inspiration to strike.
By applying the principles of self-leadership, the poet can overcome the barriers to their creativity and make space for writing in their busy life. Through self-awareness, goal setting, reinforcement, and cueing, they can reclaim their passion for poetry and experience greater fulfillment and happiness as a result.
I run workshops and coach people who want to be creatively free. I also run weekly accountability / body doubling sessions online called "The Focus Hour For Creatives" It's a place where you can get stuff done, whether it's admin or an idea, all of us are working on some aspect of our creative lives.
It's fairly new and is growing in numbers. We meet every week and share our goals and commitments with the group. This boosts accountability and motivation. If you would like to know more you can sign up for a free session to see if its for you. Join our mailing list and we will sort you a link.
Self-leadership is a guiding light in the darkness of burnout that allows us to reclaim our passion and purpose as artists and creatives.
Self - Leadership is also the core principle behind my own recovery from a burnout I experienced in my early 40s. I could't have recovered without these guiding principals of compassionate self awareness, incremental goal setting, committed celebrations of success (no matter how small it might have seemed to the outside world), and commitment to building a joyous sustainable lifestyle to keep me on track.
All the mentoring and coaching I've done, resources I've written, and spaces I've created are all designed to help others with their creative freedom, by fostering sustainable opportunities for authentic creative fulfilment. Creative satisfaction begins with confident personal agency and self acceptance.
If you are interested in joining a Focus Hour for Creatives, or would like to know more about my coaching / how it all works, get in touch to find out more.
Thanks for reading.