Releasing outcomes can unlock your true creativity

One of the things that’s been most helpful for my writing, creativity and business building (and life in general tbh) is remembering that I’m not ultimately responsible for the outcome.

When I signed up for an amazing course to complete the first draft of a novel, my teacher would always say “Remember, you’re not the author, you’re the channel.”

He repeated it dozens of times. Constantly. In the weekly workshop, the daily letters. In the Q&A sessions. The reason he needed to repeat it so often is that we, as human beings, tend to forget this.

We think it’s up to us to “make it happen.” To just do it. To make bank.

We think we’re in it alone. That our actions, and our actions alone, will make or break it.

The thing is - that’s just not true. Not in my worldview at least.

What’s true instead

We’re never alone. And it’s never solely up to us to make something happen.

Instead, we’re always being guided. By the divine, by the universe, by Source.

By our own Inner Wisdom.

And our role is not to wrest the wheel and try to control everything in the process, thereby trying to assure a certain outcome. Rather, our job is to stay open to that guidance, letting it flow through us and into our work.

What a relief it was to fully embrace this when writing my novel!

Every time I’d start to worry I couldn’t do it, that I didn’t know what I was doing, that I’d never be able to finish, I’d try to step back and realize I didn’t have to.

All I needed to do, instead, was to show up

To show up with commitment and care, and see what wanted to be written.

Then, I was able to write.

I had the desire to write this story for a reason. It was something that was calling to me, wouldn’t leave me alone in quiet moments, and all I had to do was find the support I needed to let the story come through me.

This is the same for you

Whether you’re working on your own creative project or you’re working on developing your business, you’re not the maker of the project or the creator of the business.

You’re the person who’s been called. Called to create this art. Or called to develop or grow this business.

You’re shepherding this creative idea into form, into something real and tangible.

You don’t have to do it. Rather, you just have to stay open so that your inner wisdom and greater guidance can come through you, pointing you toward the very next step.

Each day. One day after the other.

You might forget this, often. I certainly did, and still do on many days.

I need constant reminders sometimes.

The weight of responsibility and the journey

Like any journey, on your creative path or your journey to grow your business, there will be good days and bad days.

The weight of responsibility can be motivating. Good days can feel inspiring when we want to create something beautiful, something special, unique and needed in this world.

And, when you feel solely responsible for something and something goes wrong, it can be crushing.

When you remember, however, that you’re not the maker, you’re the channel, those good and bad days even out. The good days aren’t about you, and neither are the bad days. They’re just days when the flow of the project shifts and responds to the different energies and forces around it.

Being free

Setting aside responsibility for the outcome of your business or your creative project is freeing. It lets you play, experiment, have fun - the very ingredients which are more likely to invite success.

They also make the journey much more enjoyable. Which means you’re more likely to stick with things, especially if you hit an unexpected patch where things seem confusing or unclear.

When I reminded myself of this while writing my novel, I could turn back to the page and let myself be surprised by what my subconscious and own inner wisdom brought forth.

What about you?

What do you think about not being the of your work in the world but being a channel instead?

I’d love to hear any of your thoughts or stories.

Photo by Christiaan Huynen on Unsplash