Stay Curious: Tips to Reimagine Your Creative Life
By Emily Geleske
Collage: Dave Conrey | Photo (woman): Remy Loz
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
On the surface it may seem like an odd question, but it actually says a lot about how you approach unique situations in life.
People who shrink from uncertainty and the unknown may hold themselves back. They can be reluctant to branch out from what is familiar and safe.
On the other hand, those that are willing to try new things are adventurers. They embrace wonder and have a genuine eagerness to learn and improve.
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
One of the most important characteristics of a thriving creative is curiosity: the desire to know more.
Whether you work in painting, writing, design, photography, textiles, hospitality, or any other creative discipline, living creatively requires us to be constantly inspired.
And how better to do that than by indulging in curiosity?
The idiom curiosity killed the cat is meant to discourage you from getting involved in other people’s business or to warn of the dangers of being too inquisitive, which can lead to danger or misfortune.
But this passion—this hunger—for more can be one of our greatest strengths as creative people.
Curiosity boosts adaptability. When we are stuck at a crossroads, coming up with unconventional solutions and being open to exploring original ideas can lead us forward into other possibilities.
It’s continuous learning that motivates people to search for answers to problems, discover new information, and see from other points of view. It keeps us interested and interesting.
We live comfortably within the confines of our belief system until curiosity challenges us to step out. This leads to discomfort, which forces us to alter our perspective, which redefines our beliefs. The process concludes with an expansion of our previous mindset and is repeated over and over throughout our lives.
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I tend to play it safe.
I dislike ambiguity and change, so a lot of the advice and guidance I offer to other creatives is me talking to myself. Unfortunately, creativity doesn’t exist within pre-established formulas, and so I have had to figure out how to work through the unknown on my own.
As much as I try to honor my artistic side, there are things in life that I have held myself back from the fear of failure, the fear of success, vulnerability and taking risks, the potential of publicly making a fool of myself, and so many other things that are common to us creative types.
The truth is that following our curiosity is the way forward in most aspects of our lives. If we don’t listen to those urges, we will remain stagnant in our creativity, relationships, and careers. I’ve collected a few suggestions for you to try out. Here are ten tips for embracing curiosity in your creative life.
1. Let go of expectations
This means throwing my hair up into a messy ponytail and going to my studio to play. There is something about getting my hands dirty and making a mess that silences my brain and lets my creative spirit loose. For others, this might mean freewriting, working intuitively, or improvising. If you hate the result, it’s not permanent - you don’t have to keep it.
You can crumble it up, throw it away, or even just hit delete, but if you hit on something intriguing, you can develop that thought further. It might just be the inspiration you were looking for!
I recently attended an abstract art workshop, where the teacher led us through a series of quick prompts. She joked that she was bossing us around, but really, she was showing us how to tap into our intuition. To keep up with her commands, we had to act without overthinking. We ended up with incredible abstract pieces that we never would have come up with if we had tried to produce something great.
2. Release and reframe your fears
It’s OK to recognize self-doubts (we all have them), but don’t let that hesitation become an obstacle. Even if a thread of curiosity leads you to something you’re unhappy with, it’s not a defeat. On the contrary, you’ve determined what you don’t like and recognized what you don’t want to pursue.
The next time you sit down to make something, you’ll know what not to do - and your probability of success will be higher.
3. Oblige your inquiring mind
Forget about the rules you have been taught. What happens when you push outside of what you are comfortable with and what you think you know to be true? You don’t need to wait for permission, either. Just start! Try many different things, explore and experiment with techniques, materials, or combinations of the above, and see what happens when you do the unexpected.
Ask “What if?” and “Why not?” You may find something you want to investigate in more detail.
4. Have a brainstorm session
What fresh ideas can you come up with? Write everything down - especially the craziest sounding ones. Even the most unlikely thoughts can produce a thread you want to chase after.
There are many techniques here, including free writing, mind mapping, word association, and brain dump. A quick internet search will bring you up to speed on these methods (and more).
Whatever you choose, the point is to get everything out of your head and down in a list so you can rationally think through your options and then make a plan rather than going in circles trying to catch up with your thoughts.
5. Seek answers
Talk about your systems, ways to improve, or even things that other people have had success with or do differently. How can you combine those things into your framework?
When we are kids, we question everything. Why is the sky blue? How does this work? What does that do? It’s how we understand the world. Somehow, we age out of that as we get older and get stuck on the idea that we should already know everything. We lose our passion and excitement for discovery.
Learning is a lifelong undertaking. We need to return to the inquisitive nature of our childhood and be intentional about adding more of this to our adult lives.
6. Reflect on challenges and successes
What led you to those conclusions, and what could you have done differently? Don’t dwell on the disappointment of something that didn’t pan out; use the opportunity to understand what went wrong.
And don’t give up just because you think you hit a roadblock. I often believed I had come to a dead end but later found a way around it. Be patient: even if you have to set something aside for now, it will often come up again when you can approach it with fresh eyes.
7. Collect experiences
Whether reading, talking to people, experimenting in your artistic process, collaborating with others, attending classes or workshops as students, or studying other people’s output and procedures, it’s essential to get out into the world and add to your wealth of knowledge. The more you do, the more you will learn.
Bonus points if you document this and regularly look back on your progress. Sometimes, our insights don’t become clear right away, and only the passage of time can shift our outlook and allow us to see them.
Dave Note: Of all the advice in this article, this one is my most favorite. I firmly believe in the practice of creating new experiences because it’s always a catalyst for new ideas.
8. Delve into unfamiliar activities
This could be a new hobby in another creative field or something else entirely: a sport, historical research, building a collection, and so on. Maybe you want to take up crossword puzzles or try your hand at your teenager’s video games.
Whatever the activity, spend some real time on it. If you don’t enjoy it, that’s OK if you give it an honest shot. Then ask yourself: Is this something I want to pursue? What impact does it have on my main creative discipline? How can I incorporate it?
This may be a direct connection (for example, an embroidery pattern might spark an idea for a painting), but it could also be indirect. Ideas can often come to us when we are least prepared for it.
9. Challenge yourself
Set a temporary limitation on your practice by only using certain colors or materials, a small number of specific items, or simply by using a timer. Do these restrictions lead you to a better way of achieving a result?
Whether you use these insights to develop an original perspective or an entirely new method, your creative abilities will evolve, and you’ll become even better at what you do.
10. Keep up-to-date
It’s important to stay informed about advancements and current events in your field. What kind of technology is coming out? What is trending? Do those change how you approach your work?
This also applies to things that aren’t directly in your area of focus. AI, for example, is having a massive effect on every industry. The applications are seemingly infinite. Even if AI isn’t something you think you would utilize, staying aware of what’s happening around you is essential. You never know what could lead to your next best idea!
The best way to stay up to date on news and information in the creative world is to read The Hungry. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that here:
It’s easy to give advice, but harder to follow it. Taking steps toward anything can be nerve-wracking, but the alternative (not making progress) is far worse. Would you be willing to experience discomfort or would you rather stay exactly the same for the rest of your life?
Sometimes I wonder if I have the guts to step out and face difficult situations, but I definitely don’t want to remain as I am now. Just know that I am on the same journey as you and that the only way to navigate it is by taking one step at a time. We can walk the path together.
Embracing curiosity opens the door for all kinds of possibilities. When we follow the thoughts in our mind, we are led on a journey toward clarity and our best selves. We don’t need to be afraid
of change. Instead, we should welcome the opportunity to flourish and become better. Your commitment to curiosity and openness to explore it will lead you where you need to go.
James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, said that curiosity is the beginning of knowledge. As long as you keep your focus on wonder and growth, you will never run out of things to learn about.
Adding any of these tips to your daily routine will enhance your creative practice and strengthen your bravery. What other ideas can you come up with?
