2. A Question in Letter Form

Diane Asked, “Do you have a technique or method for getting in the zone for your creativity?”

I can’t talk about my methods without highlighting Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. I have read this book a handful of times, and every time she has me laughing at how relatable she is regarding the conversation of fear and how real the "Magic" is when it comes to creativity. I take something new away every time; sometimes her experiences are exactly what I need to hear.

She references getting yourself and your space ready for creativity. As someone raised in the Catholic Church, I am no stranger to rituals and calling on spiritual forces to help manifest outcomes. To "get in the zone," it was important to follow a routine to keep creativity on my side.

So as the journey began:

I am also a master procrastinator and my best work often comes from the stress and pressure of a deadline. My experience showed me that this show was too big to procrastinate for long. As my healing process continued in therapy, I adopted an early morning gym routine. It was full of underdog story podcasts and voices like David Goggins telling me I’m the only one standing in my way. I heard reminders that if I’m still sleeping, I must love my bed more than success, and the voice of my water polo coach at 5 a.m. ringing in my ears: "Hit the water before the water hits you."

One day at the gym, I felt the show calling to me; different pieces, references, and experiences that needed to be made. So, I put the gym aside for a season. Instead of the rower at 5 a.m., I chose the studio.

Beckoning creativity now happens by lighting candles and opening the space to the possibilities work has for me. It means choosing to experiment and play, giving myself a big helping of quiet, uninterrupted studio hours. As a full-time professional, my work hours start as early as 6 a.m. some days; this meant choosing to wake up earlier, work longer, and dedicate specific days solely to this work. Usually, creativity and I hang out in three-hour blocks and honestly, the paint has to dry sometime.

As I followed this routine, the work started calling to me throughout the day. Some days it was hard to wake up, but I needed to stay grounded in the "why." In the middle, I actually lost track of the big"why,” but I kept creating anyway. The bigger purpose made it necessary, and it helped that I kept telling people about the show; that external pressure kept me moving.

Moving forward, I’m not sure if these same tactics will work, but I am open to whatever comes next.

Keep growing my friend. Breathe. You are worthy of the life you dream of.

I love you.

-Jazzmyn Benitez