Are you finding open space?

New Territory

Yesterday, I wrote about how each of us resemble an ATM. We can’t give anymore than what we have in us. This means we need to constantly work to refresh our creative batteries.

Last Sunday marked the first time since creating The Collective that a day passed without something being posted. I actually realized that I would be short a post on Saturday afternoon.

At that point, I had a decision to make. Do I create a post? Do I re-post an old article? Do I do nothing? I obviously chose nothing, though I could have pushed myself to create something Saturday evening.

The truth is that I was spent. I didn’t have the energy to create.

Doing less can mean more

Martyn Chamberlin in his recent guest post for Michael Hyatt suggested that it’s better to produce less if it allows you to increase the quality of what you are producing. He was specifically referring to writing and blogging, but I think it applies to any creative endeavor.

I have pushed really hard to produce one new blog post each day of the week. Most of these posts are actually created ahead of time, and some even a week or more out. None the less, the pressure is still there to create.

This is not a complaint. It’s forced me to write when I don’t “feel like it.” I’ve had to think and research ahead. I have become a better writer.

At the same time, I’ve found myself having a hard time creating fresh content. I am also working less on other projects – improving this site, adding products to The Collective Shop, developing other site ideas I have – both for The Collective and brand new websites in my head.

Open Space

Yesterday, I wrote one key to recharging your emotional batteries is to relax. When you relax you allow yourself to move into open space – physically, emotionally, creatively, etc. Worry and anxiety holds you back where you have always been, battling the same old demons.

When you move into open and new space you are allowing room for growth and creativity. Living in open space means that this idea, dream, want belongs to me, and I’m free to do with it what I want.

Here are 2 practical things I am doing to live in open space.

1. I am scaling back the amount of posts I am creating for The Collective. For most of you this won’t be significant. I expect to post 5-6 days/week along with several guest posts a week. The results will include better posts and great information.

I also am really excited about both the new guest writers and the incredible information they are submitting. In fact, if each of The Collective’s Feedburner followers alone submitted one 300 word article, I would have enough guest articles to run through the end of the year!

2. I have committed to look at The Collective’s stats no more than 3 times each day. I’ve become addicted to knowing the pageviews of The Collective has at any given moment. There is limited value in this information, but it was beginning to rule my life. I was literally looking 10-15’s each day (if not more) via my iPhone, iPad, and computer(s).

This tie to stats was causing me to live the opposite of freedom or open space. The Collective and by extension, myself, is much more than the number of people looking at this post.

Simple by very meaningful changes for me.

What can you do to move into open space in your life? What do you need to do to make it happen?

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