Creativity has always been something I felt deeply connected to – even if I didn’t always fully understand what that meant.
There were so many hobbies for me as I was growing up. To list just a few – and, believe me, this is the type of the iceberg – my creative interests have included photography, knitting, crochet, web design. And so many more besides.
But the vast majority of my hobbies never lasted. It even became something I got teased for. As the latest new shiny object arrived and I was all passion and enthusiasm for it, no one believed I’d stick it out. It would be destined to be a passing phase, they’d assume. Well, I had previous.
The passion faded…
Let me introduce you to Johnny. Johnny is my guitar, named affectionately not after my favourite actor, Johnny Depp, but after the man himself Johnny Cash – the man in black. My guitar was all black. See what I did there…
A few years ago, I was obsessed with playing guitar. It was all I thought about. If I was at work, away from my guitar, at lunchtime, I would be planning what songs I could play and what chords they required.
Poor Bob must have been demented listening to me practising The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. I actually got pretty decent at it. I could sing along with the guitar and everything. Then… Then the passion for it faded.
Johnny now resides in a corner of our bedroom, usually gathering dust. I can’t bring myself to get rid of him – when I give inanimate objects names, you get the idea that I’m a sentimental person – but I can’t bring myself to get rid of him either.
The Zentangle® Method changed me
Along the way, in amongst all these hobbies that I was playing around with, some quite literally, I found The Zentangle® Method. A hobby that stuck, for want of a better phrase.
The Zentangle Method changed me.
In spite of having suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember, Zentangle became the thing that I escaped to. If I wasn’t doing something with friends or family, I’d be tangling. I still do it to this day – clearly you know that as you’re reading this blog post!
I had never experienced that level of focus
I had never experienced that level of focus before. I wish it extended to all the other areas of my life as well.
I like traditional meditation. I like it, but it still somehow feels lacking. My mind won’t ever calm down to the extent that I feel I need, and while I’m far from hyperventilating, I’m not a huge fan of all the breath work.
With Zentangle, I sit down, take one deep breath and then relax into my seat as I prepare to lose a bit of time tangling. Time passes at a different pace when I’m tangling!
It was a revelation. Calligraphy gives me more of the same. Focusing on the pressure of the pen brings me into the present moment and keeps me in the here and now. It’s such a powerful thing to have your hands occupied, too, while you’re doing something so mindful.
It encourages you to change your mindset
Aside from the escape and peace that I found with The Zentangle® Method, I discovered something that actually encourages you to change your mindset to steer away from the pursuit of perfection and actually take on a no-mistakes attitude.
Although the philosophy appealed to me straightaway, I can’t claim it worked for me instantly. As a journalist of almost two decades, the vast majority of which I was a sub-editor, I was literally a professional pedant. I am now a recovering perfectionist.
It’s so freeing to not have to worry about creating perfectly round circles or lines without the faintest wobble.
If you make an unintended mark, instead of crumpling your art into a ball and throwing it in the bin – as I’d previously have done – now I look for a way to incorporate that ‘error’ into a pattern or a way to work with it creatively some other way. It’s a game changer.
Realising a flaw could become a feature was incredible.
Another Zentangle philosophy, ‘Anything is possible, one stroke at a time’, had such impact for me, bringing me to the mindful element I mentioned earlier.
Trust the process
I suffered a little from comparisonitis – I still do to an extent, to be honest – but over time, I can see that my skills have improved and I’m now almost guaranteed to love the finished result of a tangle that I create.
I sometimes have to remind myself to ‘trust the process’ as sometimes what you’re working through might not look all that great but if you follow the steps, you’ll create something you’ll be proud of.
Instead of criticising my own art work, I started gaining confidence. I knew my art was good. I could see it.
It was almost like all the other hobbies I’d tried out were ‘practice’ for Zentangle (and calligraphy). With this, I had found ‘my thing’.
What was different about Zentangle®?
So what was different about The Zentangle Method? Why did I stick that out rather than the unfinished novel I began in 2008? Did I mention that before?
There were a few reasons.
- It felt easy and approachable. I only needed a pen and pencil to get started. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive. Creating art on a small piece of paper never feels overwhelming to me.
- Quick wins kept me motivated. Finishing a Zentangle tile took me about 15-20 minutes (though I’ve created quite a few bigger pieces that have taken significantly longer to complete) and I can’t get enough of that buzz of accomplishment when I finish a tile.
- It was genuinely enjoyable (and relaxing). Zentangle has never EVER felt like a chore for me. That is key to my enjoyment. The shine came off on the guitar practice as the chord practice became more difficult (barre chords are not my bag!) but I’d tangle all day long if I could.
- No pressure to be perfect. In a complete opposite of what I did careerwise, I was free to not fret about mistakes. It makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable!
- It fit into my daily routine. I found a time to tangle every day – at lunchtimes at work if I wasn’t socialising or as a wind-down before bed. It doesn’t require a huge amount of time, so it’s easy to find some time to tangle every day. Now, tangling is just something I do. I feel like there’s something missing from my day if I don’t have the opportunity to tangle.
Zentangle Method was a no-brainer for me
All of the above factors made Zentangle a no-brainer for me. I think, for me, the lesson is that a creative habit is going to stick when it’s simple, satisfying and sustainable.
It actually sparked off some more creative energy for me, leading me down the rabbit holes of both mandalas and drawing Celtic knots. All of these art forms are very mindful and enjoyable for me and I have a passion for them that doesn’t seem to want to abandon me.
If you’re reading this and you’re currently struggling with your own self-doubt around your creativity, I’ve been there and, believe me, you’re not alone.
We all do it. It’s human nature to doubt ourselves and think we aren’t good enough and that so and so is better than us at whatever activity.
That little voice in your head can be very loud and very convincing. But it’s not telling you the truth!
The only way to silence it is just to start creating anyway even if you think you don’t know what you’re doing or you don’t want to share it with anyone else.
The world is better when we share our creativity
It doesn’t matter. If you enjoy it, that’s all that counts. Do what sparks joy in your life.
I believe the world is better when we share our creativity, whatever form that may take.
So take a deep breath and give yourself permission to be perfectly imperfect.
You might just find, as I did, that once you begin, the self-doubt shrinks and the joy grows.
You might even have fun along the way. I know I have.
I can’t wait to see what you create.
If Zentangle has piqued your interest, why not give it a go? All you need is a pen and a small piece of paper – one stroke at a time, no pressure, no perfection, just the joy of creating.
If you’re curious about getting started, feel free to reach out to me on social media. You can find me on Facebook and Insta or you can email me.
I’d love to hear about your experience and what creativity means to you!