Spiritual Productivity
Writing these messages to you brings me the most joy out of all my work.
It’s where I continually enter a flow state. I throw on a YouTube playlist, typically emotionally driven piano like Ólafur Arnolds or Alexandra Stréliski, and I write.
The writing feels like my sonata moving with the music. I sometimes wish I could just write about what inspires me and not do anything else. (That day will come.)
For now, I cherish these weekly-ish shares with you.
I consider this work “Spiritual Productivity.”
That seems like an oxymoron, so let me explain.
While you can ascribe many definitions to Spiritual Productivity, I offer this simple principle:
Spiritual productivity is “arising from” not “striving for.”
Spiritual productivity occurs when an idea arises from our Soul, asking to be birthed in some form.
Some call this the muse, the Greeks called it our daemon, I simply like "inspiration."
When we follow inspiration, we commune with something otherworldly or spiritual.
Hence, we encounter “Spiritual Production” as we listen to the whispers of creativity.
When we finish our creation, we release it into the world, no longer needing to carry the idea inside.
Many people don’t share their creativity due to fear.
The biggest barrier to spiritual productivity is “they.”
“What will they think?”
“What if they don’t like it?
“What if they judge, cancel, or ridicule me?”
We must release the hold of “they” and trust our Self.
To paraphrase Joseph Campbell, “What they think must be put aside in service of our bliss.”
When we feel fear and excitement, we’re on to something.
The Void
Sometimes, inspiration leaves us, and there is nothing to do.
Lau Tzu said:
Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?
Often, I can’t wait. I’m ambitious and impatient.
This void is when I move away from Spiritual Productivity into Toxic Productivity.
Instead of “arising from,” Toxic productivity is “striving for.”
Striving for:
Recognition
Validation
Success
Or I’m striving as a coping mechanism not to feel something.
This striving is unhealthy, yet also rewarded in our culture.
This cultural norm to strive is why it's important to come back home to ourselves and check our intentions.
Fulfilling in itself.
The benefit of spiritual productivity is that it is fulfilling in itself. It is not outcome-dependent; it is all about process.
When we do something for its own sake, the results are even better than if we were to try and strive or “make something happen.”
To create from your Soul, you need to learn how to get out of your own way so your gifts can emerge.
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Is fear blocking you from moving forward?
How often do you practice spiritual productivity compared to toxic productivity?
I love hearing how this lands. Send me an email and let me know.