It’s a challenge we all deal with. We show up, work incredibly hard, strive to create something powerful, unique, impactful. And, yet, it lands with a thud. Maybe not an outright failure, but also nowhere close to what you thought could or would happen. 

Creative disappointment is a part of the process of making anything great. Whether it’s a book, a brand, a company, product, culture, or beyond, you will, inevitably, be disappointed along the way. Sometimes with yourself, other times by the reaction or response from others. What you do, how you handle these moments, is critically important, not just to long-term success, but to how you feel along the way. 

In today’s Hot Take episode, Jonathan & Cynthia discuss:

• Why don't we talk about creative disappointment?
• The issue with being ‘bright sided’ too early
• Understanding failure as a part of the learning process versus adding to a story about our identity
• The importance of sitting with something instead of rushing through it
• Powerful questions to ask yourself

Today we are diving into creative disappointment. We look at what it is, why it can impact us so deeply and the lasting impression it can leave if we don’t have a way to process it. Cynthia offers a reflection on the issue with being ‘bright-sided’ too early and why it’s important to sit with something instead of rushing through it.

We offer some new perspectives, frames and tools for the creative person / entrepreneur and a way to look at failures and setbacks as an inevitable part of the learning process, as opposed to affixing greater meaning to them and, in turn, to our identities. To round out the conversation Cynthia offers some powerful questions we can ourselves and work through with a trusted friend or professional to uncover what’s really occurring when we experience creative disappointment.

As always, we hope you enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on what it means to be creative, to grieve how we thought things would go and how to move through it rather than bury it. We hope it supports you the next time you’re experiencing something similar.

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Cynthia Morris | Website

Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach.

AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

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