Sometimes I Get Stuck ...

Sometimes I get stuck in the middle of the project. Sometimes I slow down at the finish line. Sometimes I run out of steam, feel my creativity fade or, dare I say it, find my motivation wane. I’ve often wondered why that is and I’m convinced that it is a combination of things. I recently came across some research on the value of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation when it comes to creativity that offers a bit of insight. The research suggests that intrinsic motivation helps drive creativity -- meaning your creativity and ability to produce is best served by your curiosity and desire to discover and create something new and fresh. 

Conversely, creativity appears to be negatively impacted by extrinsic motivation -- the desire for money or accolades or other things that may (or may not) come as a result of a creative pursuit. 

That got me thinking … I launch creative projects from a place of deep curiosity, and a desire to better understand something through the process of creating something that helps me answer a question or solve a problem. But once I’ve got it figured out, my curiosity is satiated and the topic becomes less compelling and I have to dig deeper to find the motivation to keep going.

And that’s where grit comes in. That’s where the work is. That’s where the grind becomes essential.

Fortunately, grit can be cultivated. So … Here's to feeding our curiosity and growing our grit.