Creative Flow: Following Excitement, Trusting the Turns

Most of us want a clear end goal. We crave certainty, a guaranteed outcome. But, in my experience, creativity (and life) don’t work that way.

Flow asks us to start where the energy is—to follow our excitement as far as it takes us—and then trust ourselves enough to pivot when the river turns.

Following Excitement = Trusting Your Body’s Innate Intelligence

When I was writing my book, I started with seemingly endless possible paths and spent months, if not years, playing them out. Many ideas didn’t make it into the final manuscript, but following that inner nudge down certain trails taught me what the book wanted to become.

One of my clients—same thing. She started out building a particular kind of app and even launched it—only to realize her heart wasn’t in that direction anymore. What emerged instead was something even more aligned. She found greater satisfaction, and fun, than if she had forced herself to keep going down the original path.

Another client was sure he knew where he wanted to live. With the freedom of working remotely, Paris was the dream. But once he dove into research, he was pulled toward Croatia instead.

Each of these stories began with clarity and enthusiasm for a certain destination and each shifted into something new.

The Dance Between Plans and Flow

The essence of creative flow is honoring your initial spark, pursuing it fully, and releasing attachment if/when it leads you somewhere unexpected. (And it likely will!)

Plans are useful. Goals matter. But the point isn’t to force them into being. The point is to trust your inner compass enough to change directions when the moment calls for it.

Next time you find yourself gripping too tightly to an outcome, remember: the river may want to turn. Can you let it? Can you trust that your body’s intuitive nudges—wherever they lead—are never wasted, but part of the process?

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