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Getting my soul back
Category: Creative
(Updated 849 Days ago)
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cmccann  says:
03/02/09
Has anyone been at the point where they feel like their job is killing their soul and they need some sort of creative outlet to help revive it? How did you find the time? What did you do? Someone suggested a book called "The Artist's Way." Not sure I have the patience for even the title, much less the book.
zachwashere
zachwashere says:
03/02/09
Here's the real killer....what do you do when your job is killing your soul and it's a creative position? What's my outlet now? More creative work that reminds me of my soul crushing job? Do I learn excel in my spare-time? How major is this life mistake that I have made?
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cmccann
cmccann says:
03/02/09
Maybe you should learn to throw clay pots? It is creative, you get something useful at the end, it isn't like your actual job, it gives you something tactile, and if you're really good then maybe a really hot he-ghost will sit behind you and help?
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zachwashere
zachwashere says:
03/02/09
This sounds much more like your fantasy than mine...perhaps you've solved your own problem in your attempt to help me?
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cmccann
cmccann says:
03/02/09
Fine, but where do I find the "he-ghost?" I HAVE A NEW SOMEDAY!
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globehound
globehound says:
03/02/09
Use the misery. That is exactly what I did while I was a corporate lawyer at a firm. I wrote a screenplay, became a certified golf instructor and just launched a website, all with the help of that misery burrowing into my soul. I hate to admit it but I actually did read the Artist's Way. The content is sort of corny but the concept is actually helpful in getting you to pursue creative outlets. While you're at it, you might want to read "Who Moved My Cheese", its another corny title but a really compelling parable about why people resist making change.
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hiyamaja
hiyamaja says:
03/04/09
creative outlet.. I`m not very creative at all so I can`t say much about that, but I`d go with sports.. there`s no better way than to play a ball sport and hit the crap out of it and release all your energy! : that way you have an outlet and you are closer to reaching your other someday! ;
and you don`t find the time, you make the time :
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lbmills
lbmills says:
03/04/09
I read Who Moved My Cheese and began my business. I've read it a few times since. It is an easy read that is simple but poignant.
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lulu
lulu says:
03/07/09
Another really good self-help book that is NOT self-help-y at all is *The War of Art.* It`s good when you need a kick in the rump to get up and get moving. And it`s a very very quick read.
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zachwashere
zachwashere says:
03/08/09
That book looks really cool...I`m definitely going to check that out.
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cmccann
cmccann says:
03/09/09
Alternatively, I went to the symphony today and I think I am going to learn to play the piano.
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A4S4L4
A4S4L4 says:
03/09/09
Ooooo I love that idea, Chase! I really want to learn too (along with many other instruments), so maybe we can challenge each other to achieve that as a Someday.
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zachwashere
zachwashere says:
03/10/09
Interesting that you say that Alyse! One of first new features we`re going to roll out is a "challenge your friend" feature...I`ll keep you posted...
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abbiht
abbiht says:
03/15/09
Get your aptitudes tested and find out WHY you`re jobs not working and what could be better! We have a lab in NYC ;) www.jocrf.org
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zachwashere
zachwashere says:
03/15/09
I`ve always wanted to take one of those tests; i remember alyse telling me about how she took one once when she visited you out in Denver. Are they expensive? How long would it take?
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KellyCH
KellyCH says:
03/23/09
I work long hours in the corporate world, so once a year, I try to force myself to learn something new...

As a means of reviving my soul, I enrolled in a photography course last year. Growing up, I`d always enjoyed taking pictures, but finally decided to harness my creativity and learn to shoot with a professional camera. It was more technically demanding that I`d expected, but still really fun. Every Saturday morning, I took classes at a Los Angeles college and then spent the rest of the weekend(s) shooting my photography assignments. For my final project, I flew to Guatemala & Nicaragua to shoot travel photography, which has always been a passion.

The prior year, I signed up for (night) French classes at the Beverly Hills Lingual Institute near where I work.

And this summer, I may be joining a kickball league. OK, this one was definitely not my idea. But it`s a creative way to spend time with your friends. I`m also starting yoga classes after I move.
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globehound
globehound says:
04/17/09
Maybe you should learn to ride a scooter? Very easy to learn and loads of fun. Not really a creative pursuit but definitely breaks up the monotony. As an added benefit, traffic becomes a thing of the past.
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zachwashere
zachwashere says:
04/17/09
I love the idea of the scooter, but fear that someone my size (6`4") might look kind of ridiculous on something so small. Any tall scooter riders out there?
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lableuefille
lableuefille says:
05/07/09
I`m starting to see all kinds of characters on scooters.

But as far as the original question goes - I definitely recommend looking up your local art league. They usually have all kinds of cool classes you can take that are geared towards professionals that need some kind of outlet. When I was living in Houston I took all kinds of classes, and sometimes they can kind of be drinking classes with art problems. It became a great social outlet with people from all different kinds of backgrounds. And in the process it helped me explore new kinds of art that I love. I`m a person that needs stuff scheduled, I need an appointment. Art classes were perfect for me.
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christine
christine says:
05/12/09
I`ve taken a completely different turn after my job started killing my soul. I realized that I did not need to put up with a job that was killing me, so after much deliberation, I quit my consulting job. I ended up going independent and found that it was the same thing, but just temporary. I then found a job that was more creative, but still not completely fulfilling. I found creative classes to take in the evenings and weekends to test out the things I enjoyed. After a lot of soul searching, I`ve decided to pursue an entirely different career that fulfills my creative outlet and will be an investment for my long-term happiness. I felt like my soul was calling me to a different path. My soul now feels very alive! You can follow my new journey here: www.christineykim.com
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zachwashere
zachwashere says:
05/14/09
Very cool stuff Christine, and nice mysomeday.com shoutout on your site! :)
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GavBelcher
GavBelcher says:
10/08/09
Sometimes a little goes a long way. I used to work with young adults with behavioural problems in a craft based college. I`ve taken a couple of one-day courses in green woodwork and that one day out in the woods making spoons with hand tools did a hell of a lot to get me back in touch with my soul. Similar activities for some might be foraging courses.

Also, cooking. Learning to cook well and get out of the stale repertoire most of us fall into is always a good thing. Years ago a heard about a woman who cooked 500 recipes from a french haute cuisine cookbook in a year in a small flat in London or somewhere. I think there`s a film out about it now, if it`s the same woman, which it might not be. That might be going to extremes, but cooking is one way, when you really harness it, of getting something therapeutic and creative back into your life (and the nutritional benefits typically make you feel more in touch with yourself too). Even bread making. Yes, making bread, without a machine to accompany you, can be very therapeutic.

I tried Tai Chi. Didn`t do it for me. Helped others I know.

Creative writing can be very time consuming. Some busy people have managed to find time for poetry in their lives though. Raymond Carver, when he was working in a variety of blue collar jobs, found it was the only writing he could do. On the other side of the scale, British magazine publisher Felix Dennis managed to combine a passion for writing poetry (a passion he found late in life) with a highly pressured and successful career to great effect.

There are many volunteer-based theatres where you can chip in on anything from a technical level to rigging and performance.

There are a million things you can do, but realising that your job is killing you is always the first step, however late you find it. And no, the decisisions you make early on in life are never decisively restrictive as far as I`m concerned. You can always make a change in one way or another. The main thing is not to pressurise yourself so much about it it turns into another target that might have come from a edict in a merchant bank for all the good it will do you. Perhaps you have to find that change in attitude first before you are able to click into the opportunities around you.

I`m still just starting out, but I`m enjoying the journey. Life, happiness, it`s a journey not a destination after all. That sounds trite to me, but I know what I mean.
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