Investing In Yourself
Being a freelancer is an interesting dynamic. I'm a hired hand to help businesses, agencies and organizations use film and storytelling to fulfill their goals. A lot of the time, these projects are not necessarily my own. On the other hand, I'm also a person who can create, more or less, on my own. If there's a project or idea I have, I can put the resources towards making it happen.
Enter: The Personal Projects. There isn't necessarily a monetary reward. No guarantee that it'll turn out to anything. And no motives to tie it back with an organization or brand. t's the act of asking "what if..." or following a story that peaks my curiosity. It's creatively investing in myself.
Each year since around 2014, I've set a goal to do a number of personal projects a year. And here I am at it again. It's a funny mix of procrastination, waiting, observing life, reflecting on memories, watching films and of course, writing. I'm trusting the process and getting into the work. After some extended client work in the Winter, this past month has been about filling the well - replenishing the creative resources and taking care of my self. As Julia Cameron puts it:
“As artists we must learn to be self-nourishing. We must become alert enough to consciously replenish our creative resources as we draw on them— to restock the trout pond, so to speak. I call this process filling the well. ”
For me, so much of the 'creative process' is a balance of following the ebbs and flow and energy, while at the same time, applying the heat and pressure to sit down and work. Too much relaxation creates lethargy, too much work creates burnout. I feel like I've been floating around the work to be done, but not quite getting into it. And I'm feeling like it's about time to start digging my teeth into it.
What have you been itching to sink your teeth into in the New Year? How are you investing in yourself?
Come join the screening of my 2017 personal project The Lion this Saturday at The Vancouver Short Film Fest. Grab a ticket here!