It often feels like a tremendous amount of work is required to get an idea moving forward, like pushing a train uphill. But at a certain point, the thing takes on its own momentum, and takes unexpected turns. So it's that feeling of holding on, rather than pushing it, that is the most exciting thing. It's that need to occasionally bounce off the walls, letting anything happen for any reason, and having nothing to guide you that is the joy.
Interpretation
The process of bringing an idea to life can be challenging, but once it gains momentum, it becomes a joyful journey of exploration and spontaneity.
Danny Elfman's quote highlights the dual nature of creative endeavors: the initial struggle to develop and push an idea forward, akin to the effort of moving a train uphill, contrasts with the exhilarating phase when the idea begins to gain its own momentum. At this stage, the act of creation becomes less about control and more about allowing the idea to evolve freely, embracing unexpected outcomes and enjoying the unpredictable nature of the creative process.
In practice
During a motivational speech at a creative workshop, one could inspire attendees by quoting this to emphasize the beauty of the creative process.
Highly creative people have a gift for connecting supposedly unrelated elements and ideas. They cross borders without regard for customs posts or No Trespassing signs. They throw suspension bridges across great distances. These elegant and unexpected combinations flow together beautifully in the twilight zone, where metaphor and resemblance rules in place of logic and classification.
There’s a temptation in our networked age to think that ideas can be developed by email and iChat. That’s crazy. Creativity comes from spontaneous meetings, from random discussions. You run into someone, you ask what they’re doing, you say ‘wow,’ and soon you’re cooking up all sorts of ideas.
A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.
Whether we are poets or parents or teachers or artists or gardeners, we must start where we are and use what we have. In the process of creation and relationship, what seems mundane and trivial may show itself to be a holy, precious part of a pattern.
You know, even I have had work or ideas come through me from a source that I honestly cannot identify. And what is that thing? And how are we to relate to it in a way that will not make us lose our minds, but, in fact, might actually keep us sane?
I have a lot of confidence, but little Self-Esteem. This has given me a tremendous creative spark because it forced me to keep proving myself.
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