If you think creative freedom is not high on your values list, take a moment to listen to the perspective in this audio clip. You may change your mind.
Doing a life values inventory can reveal unexpected priorities. Creative freedom is one of them.
Five Types of Freedom
If you are feeling bored, antsy, or unfulfilled in your job or career, chances are you are missing some type of freedom.
While not everyone holds freedom as a priority, I have found that when clients are feeling frustrated and trapped, it is often because they are missing one of the following five types of freedom:
- Time freedom
- Creative freedom
- Financial freedom
- Freedom to be who you truly are
- Freedom to make your own choices
It’s a good idea to ask yourself how these five types of freedom align with your values.
Some people may feel they need all five to be satisfied in their work. Others may just need one or two.
Creative Freedom
Let’s hone in on creative freedom since it’s one that is often misunderstood.
That’s because people tend to equate creativity with being artistic.
But being artistic is not the only way to be creative.
Other forms of creativity include things like:
- creative thinking
- problem solving
- building a team
- developing a product from inception to market roll out.
If you are someone who values these and other types of creativity, then you are likely to have creative freedom as a life value whether or not you are artistic.
One easy way to determine if you are missing creative freedom in your job or career is to assess whether you are getting involved in work matters that aren’t important and/or don’t concern you.
Gossiping and other unproductive pastimes that engage your mind and waste precious energy and time are common ways creative people who don’t have enough creative freedom occupy themselves.
It’s the mind’s way of finding a creative outlet when it’s bored.
The best way to disengage from such unproductive behavior is to get your brain engaged with your own creative process.
It’s much more satisfying than gossiping about your coworkers.
Is your work situation frustrating you? Do you hate your job, but have no idea what to do instead? Attempting to navigate those waters without support is not fun (yes, I do know, but that’s another story). I’m excited to announce that I’ve created The Job I Love Toolkit, with all the resources you’ll need to finally clarify how to get paid to do you.TM To be the first to hear more details, join the VIP Wait List.
And if you know a friend or neighbor who could use hearing the advice in this article or needs The Job I Love Toolkit, please forward this to them.