How Does Living On An Island Impacts My Creativity
Don't underestimate the role of nature in your creative process
I grew up fascinated by the ocean. Beaches were a dream for someone born and raised in the landlocked centralmost part of India, like myself. The azure water foaming against white sand, I have dreamt of living near the ocean.
Visiting Goa was the only way I could do that, so I’d save up or plead with my mother to cover the cost of my trip to the beach. The trip gave me a break from my arduous design degree. I’d wait months for that week to dip my toes in the Arabian Sea. Waking up to the Caribbean Ocean now makes every waking day a miracle.
It’s been a NZT-48 for my creativity. But what changed? Am I a different person? Was I doing it wrong all along? Let’s debunk.
Nature Enters the Chat
When I first read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, I didn’t anticipate nature had that much power. Cameron beautifully describes how being in nature allows us to tap into our innate creativity, unlocking hidden reservoirs of imagination and inspiration.
Back in India, I’d spend ten minutes every day watching the sky; that was the only time I was close to nature. The sky was pretty, but that was it. I didn’t think beyond the colors.
Four months living on an island have made me notice things I wouldn’t before. The vastness of nature, whether it’s a towering mountain range, a tropical forest, or the azure water of the sea, reminds me that I’m just a speck of dust in the universe and ignites a sense of curiosity.
It’s esoteric and unclear how nature taps into primal energy that fuels our artistic endeavors, guiding us to create with passion and purpose, but I am living proof that it changes you. It evokes a sense of awe and wonder that deeply connects with our creative spirit.
Now, I want to pick my journal before I pick my phone. I want to write about the things I never had the courage to write. It’s like all the birds I once caged, they all want to come out together.
Taking a break from Instagram had been a conscious decision. I felt I wasn’t fit for the platform; my words were fighting to get attention in the world of reels. People don’t understand my philosophies or appreciate my art. So, I stopped.
I let strangers on the internet determine the quality of my work, and it turned out in self-doubt and months away from creative practices.
You don’t doubt yourself when living on an island because there’s no time for it. You’re busy either putting on your sunscreen or trying to decipher the true beauty of nature. It’s never a dull day when you dive into the beautiful world of nature.
Jamaica’s cultural richness and diversity inspire my creative work. From the vibrant music scene to the colorful artwork and the rich history woven into everyday life, there’s a constant flow of creativity around me.
The fresh air after living in Gurgaon has been a blessing. I don’t feel competitive with people; my only competition is fighting the resistance to show up daily.
Shift in Perspective
I’d be lying if I didn’t mention the perspective shift in the last four months. I don’t know what triggered it, but it was long overdue.
For so long, I have capped my creative output to words. Caging creativity leads to self-doubt because your mind starts playing tricks on you when you say one thing and do another.
Not letting your creative output signal you don’t think you’re good enough to share it with the world. This one line took me five years to figure out.
I vanished for months, writing sporadically and not sharing my work outside of it. I stopped sending this newsletter. It was complicated.
Living on an island has also taught me the value of slow living, simplicity, and my creative endeavors. Just as the ocean is vast yet serene, I’ve learned to focus on what truly matters in my work, stripping away the unnecessary to reveal the essence of my ideas.
Nature is God’s best creative project.
With its vibrant colors, soothing sounds, and ever-changing landscapes, nature plays a crucial role in how I approach creativity. Being surrounded by such natural beauty reminds me to appreciate the small moments, find beauty in simplicity, and embrace the flow of life.
One of the most significant impacts of living on an island is the sense of freedom it brings. The open spaces, the fresh air, and the slower pace of life allow me to breathe freely and think more expansively. I find myself exploring new ideas, taking creative risks, and pushing the boundaries of my imagination without feeling constrained by external pressures.
Creativity is personal
The definition of creativity is different for all of us. For me, it’s spiritual me.
Now, when I wake, I see the ocean from every room of my new home; I see the inner child in me heal. The colors give me ideas I want to act on fast.
I don’t know about others, but trusting what you don’t understand is a unique spiritual experience. I don’t know how I get motivated to put together colorful boxes to create conceptual art.
But I know when I look at the colors of nature around me, I desire to paint the world with a bit of myself through my words and art.
“My formula for success was very simple: Do whatever is put in front of you with all your heart and soul without regard for personal results. Do the work as though it were given to you by the universe itself — because it was.”
— Michael A. Singer
I am ending today’s post with this quote for the Surrender Experiment, which I read a few years back.
What I have up to
I am currently reading John Maeda's "The Laws of Simplicity," which provides ten rules for balancing simplicity and complexity in business, tech, and design.
After stumbling upon Marshall McLuhan's work, I am exploring new media for my work. (Yes, including reels)
I hope you enjoyed this email as much as I enjoyed writing it :)
Until next time
Shreya