Seeds

Intentional steps & passion cultivates creative success, but how to grow the seed of an idea?

Hello, I hope this finds you well! It is beautiful here today and I am enjoying finishing this email to you sat in the sunshine. I love the sounds that come with living in the heart of our old town - it is always interesting, always different, and always vibrant.

In the former home of Zoe Ellison. Styling Ali Heath, Image Brent Darby.

When I started this message earlier in the week the noise of the nearby, local choir was bouncing off our courtyard walls. Some of the choir voices singing their hearts out were finessed, some squeaky, and some pretty off key! But what was lovely was hearing a broad group of people creating something together - all encouraging, supporting, learning and tweaking their approach, in order to better themselves and their group effort. For this post about planting seeds, the different singing levels seemed rather apt!

It is inevitable that all of us are always at different stages of bringing our own projects and skills to life. Sometimes when we look around it can feel as if we are behind the curve, when looking at what our contemporaries are achieving, but planting seeds takes time, and cannot be rushed. I have two big things on the go at the moment and am feeling very off grid, and remote with my usual communication, but sometimes it is the only way to get things done and you have to be kind to yourself, not worry about that, because without quiet, headspace, and planning it makes it very hard to make a vision a reality. If you are in the process of growing your own seeds then I hope these pointers help to keep you on track.

"Keep planting new seeds until your mind becomes the earth that gives birth to new worlds." Curtis Tyrone Jones

In the home of Amanda Pratt. Styling Ali Heath, Image Brent Darby.

HOW TO SEW YOUR SEEDS OF CREATIVITY

1. Establish defined goals:
Clarify what you want to achieve on your creative journey. Whether it's starting a business, mastering a new hobby or skill, writing a play, creating a course, or looking after your own wellness - having clear goals will provide much needed clarity and direction.

2. Consider vision-boarding:
When you begin to visualise your goals and dreams it can help to manifest the seed of an idea into a reality. Surround yourself in your work place, or in a spot that catches your eye, - with quotes, images, sayings, and drawings that reflect your aspirations and desired outcomes. Make sure you can see it every day, as it will act as a reminder and encourage you to spend time making things happen.

"Within the seed of your desire is everything necessary for it to blossom to fulfilment... 
Your work is just to give it a fertile growing place in order to expand." Esther Hicks

3. Seek valued inspiration:
From people, books, art, magazines, and music that inspires and motivates you. It will fuel your passion, creativity and positivity.

4. Practice self-care:
Look after your physical and mental well-being and the good things will come. We all need to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise, and the pursuit of mindful meditation with time in nature, for your own thoughts to filter through will really help. I have just begun a course of reiki and resetting lymph flow - as a writer I am guilty of sitting for too long and not practising what I preach, so for this busy period of work, I am attempting to follow new rituals, to take breaks, look after my well-being more and build in time for that, as a daily part of my creative journey.

I have always been good at putting my own well-being at the bottom of the list, and I realise it needs to be at the top, to keep the equilibrium in check. Pressing reset is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Something we are all very capable of making ourselves feel guilty about. Being kind to yourself is important, so change your inner dialogue.

"The tiny seed knew that in order to grow it needed to be dropped in dirt, covered in darkness, and struggle to reach the light." Sandra King

5. Remember seeds need nurturing to become plants:
When you break down the thought of a huge project into smaller bite sized chunks, everything feels more manageable and you feel more able to work towards the bigger picture as things feel less daunting.

6. Seek feedback:
Welcome feedback from mentors, peers, or professional experts in your field; and engage with a community of friends, family and work colleagues that motivate you and provide helpful considered criticism when needed to help you grow.

7. Keep your tribe tight:
Your close tribe of trusted advocates will offer perspective, support and honesty. They stop you taking yourself too seriously, and in particularly hectic times will make you feel safe, supported and loved. They are your biggest champions - cheering you on, willing you to succeed, not waiting for you to fail.

8. Learn from failure:
A natural and vital part of the creative process - these setbacks are great opportunities to learn, reassess and grow. Stepping stones towards reaching your ambition.

For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn't understand growth, it would look like complete destruction." Cynthia Occelli

9. Celebrate the small wins:
Every stage of bringing a project to life is a win. If you take time to acknowledge the small steps and successes it will help you get over the next few hurdles to make an idea happen.

10. Time lines can change:
Sometimes project timelines do have to change. Setting a target will help to create momentum, but when things outside of your control happen and set your project dates back, try to go with it. Keeping your head focused and not distracted will ensure you continue to nurture the idea. Sometimes there is more rain and sometimes more sunshine - it’s all about balance and accepting what is out of your control.

I hope these simple ideas help. Staying patient, learning to trust the journey and to stand by the courage of your convictions, will over time, ultimately place you one step nearer to watching the seed of an idea bloom. Nurturing, watering ideas and understanding that sometimes growth is slow, will help you manage your expectations. But when the shoots turn into full blown trees with branches of possibility, you will be so happy that you were patient and enjoyed the process of slow growth, in order to reap the rewards.

Do let me know if would like me to cover any specific topics. Your support means such a lot and I am very grateful to those who have signed up as paid subscribers it really does help with the commitment to share content, and to everyone who is following along and supporting. I would love you to share For The Curious, with anyone who you feel might enjoy it.

Chat next week. With much love Ali x x

As a lover of storytelling, words and images, I am excited to be able to communicate and share with you in a longer form way, as an extension to my instagram feed, and am grateful for those supporting me with a paid subscription. After having worked in interiors and many related fields for over 20 years, since leaving the corporate world, I am looking forward to sharing many of the valuable things I have learnt, and have helped me pivot since starting my own company; along with insights, learnings and creative direction, that I hope will inspire you too.