Letting Go: The Secret Ingredient to Creativity and Calm

How often do you catch yourself rushing through one thing just to get to the next? That feeling of needing to “get this over with” so you can move on to something more important—or at least more exciting? You’re not alone. But what if the magic wasn’t in “what’s next” but in right now?

This is not a new concept, but at the moment it's rearing it's not so attractive head and slapping me in the face because I have a bad back. I'd like to say that was because I'd been slaving over a hot kiln too much, but it was actually flipping a massive tractor tyre in the gym. Anyway, the upshot is that I am finding it had to do much and and it's keeping me from working on various projects in the studio.

But whilst I am in pain and finding it hard to move, I am constantly thinking about how I’d rather be in the studio… Or out walking or pretty much anywhere else doing something else other than feeling like I am right now - grumpy!

The only problem is whilst I'm feeling grumpy, distracted, frustrated and everything else that is less than conducive to being a happy bunny in life, I am actively throwing away hours of my life... because at this moment I'm not in this moment if you get me - I'm constantly somewhere else in my mind.

Then I got to thinking how this is how most of us live all the time. Caught in a constant loop of wishing we were somewhere else, doing something else. Our modern world practically trains us to live this way—scrolling through social media, juggling to-do lists, or worrying about everything from the state of the economy to tomorrow’s weather. It is EXHAUSTING and it is cutting us off from our creativity.

As artists, this mindset can be especially dangerous. Creativity thrives on presence—being in the moment with your materials, your hands, your ideas. But when your mind is distracted, stuck in a habit of wanting something other than what’s in front of you, the art suffers. And so do you.

Resistance Is Tension...

That resistance to the present—the thought that things should be different—is the root of tension. In the body, it feels like tightness. In the mind, it feels like dissatisfaction. And both feed into each other. It’s a cycle: when we resist the now, we create tension; when we’re tense, it’s harder to relax and embrace the moment.

But here’s the good news: you can change this pattern. You can teach yourself to let go. And when you do, something amazing happens. Creativity flows. Relaxation comes naturally. And that sense of constant “not enough” starts to fade.

The Art of Letting Go

Letting go isn’t about giving up. It’s about releasing the grip of resistance—whether it’s tension in your body or that little voice in your head saying you should be doing something else.

When I’m working with glass, there’s a moment where the process takes over. The heat, the texture, the colors—they demand my full attention. If I’m too busy thinking about what the final piece should look like, I miss out on the joy of creating it. But when I allow myself to relax into the process, that’s when the magic happens. The piece almost creates itself.

This practice of being present can be cultivated outside the studio too. Daily relaxation, even for just a few minutes, helps reset your mind and body. For me, it’s as simple as taking a deep breath, feeling my body soften, and letting go of all the “shoulds.” This little ritual brings me back to a sense of calm—and it opens the door for inspiration.

A New Way to Create

Whether you’re stretching, painting, sculpting, or just walking in the park, try asking yourself:

• How does this feel?

• Can I relax into this moment?

• What happens if I let go of expectations and just be?

This shift is transformative—not just for your art, but for your whole life. The more you practice letting go, the more you’ll find that ideas flow effortlessly, tension melts away, and you can fully enjoy the process of creating something beautiful.

As the old saying goes, “Energy flows where attention goes.” So why not direct that attention to the present? You might just discover that the here and now is exactly where the magic lives.

Letting go feels… well, you’ll have to find your own word for it. For me, it’s peacefulness. It’s the space where creativity begins and where the world, for just a moment, feels exactly as it should.

Now, take a breath. Let it all go. And see what unfolds.

p.s. I wrote this whilst I had a bad back in an attempt to focus me on the now and to help me find some alternative creative outlet whilst I can't do everything that I want to be doing... so far it is working!