Often, what you hear is people looking for how to come up with creative ideas. What you don’t hear is people talking about having too many creative ideas they don’t know which one to choose. Not that the second situation is not as prevalent as the first. It certainly is!! It’s just that it’s not talked about as often.
The first time I heard someone talk about it was oh so many years ago. I was on a conference call where a lady (Tamara, can’t remember her last name), was talking about making career choices. That’s when she distinguished between those who have no ideas about which careers to choose and those who had so many ideas, they couldn’t decide which to choose.
Detail View ” Swirly Stormy” – Collage, Stitch and Dye on Cotton by Clara Nartey
And then she said something that has stuck with me all these years. She described the second group of people as having a good problem because they were “multi-talented.”
Over the years, Tamara’s statement has often been repeated over and over again in my mind.
Having Too Many Ideas is a Sign of Being Multi-Talented
It sure is nice to be described as multi-talented but it doesn’t feel so good when your multi-talented status hinders your progress.
Talking about your abundance of ideas can either make you sound boastful or it could be downright embarrassing.
This week, I received an email from one such multi-talented person. She writes about how she’s been to art school, learned so much, and now she’s plagued with so many ideas. She says
Creatively, I have too many ideas
And too many ideas sometimes just don’t work.
She’s right about that one. I know exactly what she’s talking about here. And if you’ve been creating for any period of time, you may have encountered this problem too. It’s actually got a name TMIS (Too Many Ideas Syndrome). So, how does this problem of multi-talented creatives exhibit itself?
Detail View ” Swirly Stormy” – Collage, Stitch and Dye on Cotton by Clara Nartey
Tell-Tale Signs of Being Multi-Talented and Having Too Many Creative Ideas
Indecision: Usually when you have too many ideas to choose from, it results in artistic paralysis. You freeze and you’re unable to make a decision (this is how I know). In the midst of several ideas, you can end up doing nothing. Similarly, consumer research has shown that we experience this same problem of indecision when we are given too many product choices.
Procrastination: Sometimes, it’s not that you can’t get started on projects, it’s that you easily get distracted by new ideas. That’s when the dreaded UFO’s (Unfinished Objects) appear. You start one project then you leave it to pursue something more interesting. When I’m working in my studio, sometimes just the sight of some fabric peeking out from under a pile is enough to get me to start something totally unrelated. Then I’ve got to talk myself into ” staying with the program”.
Anxiety: We have just one headspace for making decisions as well as being creative. When we can’t make decisions, or when we keep procrastinating because we have too many choices to pick from, it makes us anxious. This affects our creativity negatively.
Starting is the hardest thing to do but getting started is your only chance of ever getting anything done. So just start!!
Full View ” Swirly Stormy” – Collage, Stitch and Dye on Cotton by Clara Nartey
How to Choose When You’re Multi-Talented and Have Too Many Creative Ideas
Work in a Series: You’ve got to set some limitations within which to work. Choose a theme, or a subject, or color. (I keep a record of all my ideas in an iPhone app called Day One – You should record yours too. Group your ideas into themes if possible. ) Then limit yourself to working within one theme to the exclusion of all others. Limitations help you focus and do your best work.
Any Start is Good Enough: “But what if I still have so many series themes to choose from?” Here’s my take on this. What you start with is not as important as whether you start or not. I often struggle with starting new projects but I’ve learned to overcome this problem by doing a self-talk. This talk has the power of kicking me in the rear and reminding me that whatever I start with is good enough. In the abundance of ideas, the chances of picking a good idea are high. So just pick one.
ChooseThe Path of Least Resistance: : Further, use both your mind and heart to help you. Choose the path of least resistance and most satisfaction. Make it so easy for yourself that you can’t not choose. Start with a manageable size project or break up a big one into parts. Then start building something big with just that small start.
The Path Becomes Clearer: We often hold back from making a decision because we don’t want to be wrong. So we want to figure it all out. But you don’t have to. I’ve noticed that when I start to work on a project, the path becomes clearer as I work. You can’t figure everything out ahead of time. And the surprises and happy accidents actually make the creative process more fun.
Concluding Thoughts
So here you have it, helpful ways for the multi-talented woman to force a decision and choose a project to work on. A lot of self-talk and self-discipline helps with this one.
When I started, this week’s project – “Stormy Swirls #1” – the path wasn’t clear. I didn’t know what I was doing, which is nothing new 🙂 But it turned out quite well as you can see from the photos. I only wish I’d added one small circle in the top right-hand corner ( says my inner-critic). But that’s why I work in a series, says me. I’ll get a chance to give myself that satisfaction in another piece.
Your Turn
What do you struggle with more often? Creative blocks or the multi-talented creative’s problem – idea overwhelm? Hope to see you in the comments section.
Warmest Regards,
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Clara
Since I am relatively new to art quilts I want to do it all, lol. I find a new technique and read all I can about it, then add it to my Pinterest page. I find a new subject to quilt or a new artist and the same thing happens. It’s like a whole new world has opened. Art quilts is such an expansive field. I get lost wondering if I should paint this and with what. Or use sheers or satin for that one. Or perhaps a stamp would be better. And embellishment is a whole class in itself. I love it, but it doesn’t make deciding very easy.
Mickie,
I hear you. It requires a lot of self discipline but you can do this.
Start with a challenge. Come up with a calendar of challenge topics – one technique each month. Then make sure you FINISH a small piece every month using the technique of the month. It’ll get you working, and you’ll try many techniques and satisfy your curiosity.
But most importantly it’ll break the paralysis and get you going.
You certainly described me, Clara! I always say I am like a lot of my former students who had problems with focusing on so many things, they could not settle down long enough to complete anything. I have to force myself to ignore other things when working or I would never get done. I have a ton of UFOs and a zillion design ideas. I have stacks of fabric waiting to be sewn because every time I think of what I want to do with some of it, I think of something I want to do with other fabric, or even another idea for the first fabric. So I spend more time thinking than doing. And your are so right that you just have to DO something. Anything. Get going.
Vicky,
I’m so glad this post spoke to you. As you just described, there are so many people just like that. i hope the solutions I’ve outlined here help you get some things done. Anything. Just do it and it’ll build your momentum to do more. xxx Clara
Hi Clara! I just “discovered” you (thanks to “…And Then We Set it On Fire). 🙂 You have described me perfectly – too many techniques, ideas to try, but I am paralyzed on where to start (and this has been going on for a very long time). Plus, (as for a lot of us), working full-time doesn’t give me large chunks of time (which I like) to work. Thanks so much for the blog on this topic. I look forward to getting to “know” you!
I actually find that I’m more productive with the small chunks of time that I have. We often don’t realize how beneficial restrictions and structures are for our productivity.
Take advantage of the restrictions you have on your time and see your “small chunks” of time as creative time. You’ll soon be able to break out of the cycle.
Wishing you the best and I’m looking forward to my month on the Fire Blog.
Elle, this month is machine stitching indeed. Woo hoo!! I look forward to it. And I hope you’ll join me to try out the techniques and comment on the blog posts.
Since I am relatively new to art quilts I want to do it all, lol. I find a new technique and read all I can about it, then add it to my Pinterest page. I find a new subject to quilt or a new artist and the same thing happens. It’s like a whole new world has opened. Art quilts is such an expansive field. I get lost wondering if I should paint this and with what. Or use sheers or satin for that one. Or perhaps a stamp would be better. And embellishment is a whole class in itself. I love it, but it doesn’t make deciding very easy.
Mickie,
I hear you. It requires a lot of self discipline but you can do this.
Start with a challenge. Come up with a calendar of challenge topics – one technique each month. Then make sure you FINISH a small piece every month using the technique of the month. It’ll get you working, and you’ll try many techniques and satisfy your curiosity.
But most importantly it’ll break the paralysis and get you going.
Try it out and let me know how it goes.
Clara.
You certainly described me, Clara! I always say I am like a lot of my former students who had problems with focusing on so many things, they could not settle down long enough to complete anything. I have to force myself to ignore other things when working or I would never get done. I have a ton of UFOs and a zillion design ideas. I have stacks of fabric waiting to be sewn because every time I think of what I want to do with some of it, I think of something I want to do with other fabric, or even another idea for the first fabric. So I spend more time thinking than doing. And your are so right that you just have to DO something. Anything. Get going.
Vicky,
I’m so glad this post spoke to you. As you just described, there are so many people just like that. i hope the solutions I’ve outlined here help you get some things done. Anything. Just do it and it’ll build your momentum to do more. xxx Clara
Hi Clara! I just “discovered” you (thanks to “…And Then We Set it On Fire). 🙂 You have described me perfectly – too many techniques, ideas to try, but I am paralyzed on where to start (and this has been going on for a very long time). Plus, (as for a lot of us), working full-time doesn’t give me large chunks of time (which I like) to work. Thanks so much for the blog on this topic. I look forward to getting to “know” you!
Hi Beverly, It’s wonderful to connect with you.
I actually find that I’m more productive with the small chunks of time that I have. We often don’t realize how beneficial restrictions and structures are for our productivity.
Take advantage of the restrictions you have on your time and see your “small chunks” of time as creative time. You’ll soon be able to break out of the cycle.
Wishing you the best and I’m looking forward to my month on the Fire Blog.
Clara
I, too, have been set on fire. wow! A technique a month. This month is machine stitching! 🙂
Elle, this month is machine stitching indeed. Woo hoo!! I look forward to it. And I hope you’ll join me to try out the techniques and comment on the blog posts.