Hi! Welcome to the 4 CreativeWheels newsletter — your weekly dose of insights on creativity and fuel for your creative journey.

Here we are! Another week, another issue. Thank you so much for your patience!

I’ve been having migraines and tension headaches which affect my work rate, quality, and intensity. But, the pleasure of serving you was stronger than my aches. And I had the intention of not missing the chance to send something.

Talking about intention, that’s the topic of our issue.

Without further ado…

Let’s start the ride!

Main Wheel

On a hot and sunny day in Austin, Texas, there was a family gathering. It was a big family with dozens of children around the age of 10.

On one side, the adults, parents and grandparents alike, were having a discussion and some drinks. On the other side, the kids, children and grandchildren alike, were playing. A usual gathering, it was, until one moment.

Paul, a member of the adults' camp, bored by the familiar chats in his group went to the kids' camp. He was amazed.

The kids were jumping up and down, running side to side, and having a full experience as they played.

So, as a typical adult, Paul went and disrupted the play. He slowly approached the playground, or backyard I should say, and said, "Hello, children!"

There was no reply. The only sounds filling the place were the little ones' screams.

Paul gave it another try. He shouted, "HELLO, CHILDREN!"

A sudden wind of silence blew in the backyard until the noises of the kids running to Paul took over.

They all ran, repeatedly shouting back, "HELLO, UNCLE PAUL!"

In just a few seconds Paul saw himself surrounded by these little creatures.

A gentleman he was, he shrank to be as tall as the whole group. Then he asked one of the most fascinating questions every child has ever heard, "What do y'all want to be when you grow up?"

"Not again," all the children exclaimed. The kids were exhausted to hear that question because every adult that came and disrupted their play, asked the same question.

Fortunately for Paul, some kids had a direct reply. Some of them had several layers to their replies. And others had no answer to provide.

He noticed that the ones with no responses felt bad. So, as a good uncle, he asked a simpler question, "Who do you want to be like?"

Like a chaotic choir, all the children responded simultaneously. After the kids' boost of excitement settled down, Paul asked the question individually.

As he listened to each child's reply, he felt joy because he could see the bright light in their eyes, the rise of their cheeks, and the enthusiasm in their voices.

When all the children had the chance to respond, Paul set up a new play for the kids.

"Now, go play like you were that person. And I'll watch you play. The one who'll really be like their person wins," Paul told the camp.

The kids went back to their playground thrilled to take the challenge. It was amazing. Paul couldn't help but smile as he watched them. He later realized he had no interest in finding a winner. He didn't need to.

He enjoyed watching how different all the kids behaved and how they took it to heart especially the kids who had no response to the first question.

Moreover, Paul was pleased to see how dedicated was her niece Rosalia to her role of being like her mom, Paul's sister.

The way she walked, talked, and even the way she scolded her cousin Peter (playing like the Hulk) after he pushed her,... all were a reflection of her mother.

We are all like these kids whenever we plan to work or are working on creative work.

Sometimes we know what we want and aim for. Sometimes we have different options to choose from. But sometimes we have no answers and are clueless.

In those times, it's hard to know what your project should be or how it would be created. Models and examples are great to have. However, the best way to push through that uncertainty is through intention. Intention will act as a guide.

In the story, intention was what made the children's play lively. They did not just have models, but had and let the intention of being like a certain person dictate each action they took.

Their intention was the great force that brought them to more clarity.

Similarly, you could have a creative you're working on. You are unsure how you should progress. You might not know that your project should have some red. However, as you work on the piece with the intention of being vibrant, you realize that the piece needs some red.

It goes even further.

Let's say we have two creatives. One creative works with the intention to impress her family. The other creative works with the intention to break boundaries in her genre.

Initially, the first creative wanted to go for something minimalistic. She wanted to include elements of punk culture. Also, she wanted to have some Rick Owens influence. But as she thought of her family, she realized that it wasn't the way to go.

Her family finds minimalism boring, and punk culture too strange, and thinks Rick Owens is overrated.

Originally, the second creative wanted to go for something in the quiet luxury style. She wanted to include elements of the Louis Vuitton brand. And she wanted to have some influence from Roman architecture. But as she thought of what already exists in her genre, she took a different route.

To break boundaries in her genre, she had to explore further and farther.

Both of the creatives will probably have great work. But the difference between them will be patent.

Their intentions will guide them to distinct paths to execute their ideas and finish their projects.

In the same way, we can set an intention to what we desire and be led to where we need to be.

So next time you find yourself staring at a blank canvas, a silent keyboard, or an empty page, remember the children in the backyard.

Don't be afraid to start with a simple intention, like wanting to evoke a certain emotion or explore a new technique.

Let intention be your great guide to creative clarity and competence.

Inspiring Wheels

Here are two (or more) creative works that you’ll not regret checking out:

• “Why Creativity is Underappreciated” - u/SecretZucchini | An interesting and insightful take on creativity and its value in our world. I wish it was an article instead of a Reddit comment as it deserves to be read. [Link]

• “The Second Stage of The Creative Process, ‘Find the Gaps!’“ - Dr. KH Kim | Wonderful article on why you should be curious and look for inconsistencies or problems in your area of work and interest. [Link to article]

Want to share this issue of 4CW with a friend, colleague,… any human being? Just copy and paste this link: https://4creativewheels.beehiiv.com/p/april-11-2024 😉 😃

Thanks very much for sharing!

Thank you so much for reading! 

As always, feel free to reply to this email & share your thoughts, stories, and any experience related to this topic. I’d love to hear them!  

C ya next Week! 

Embracing Creativity™,

Richard M.

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