3 tips for making good use of the fallow times

“I often experience a sense of flow in my work, such as when doing a rewarding project,” said one person. “But after completing the job I sometimes go into the doldrums. It’s obviously because I have lost the sense of purpose I had when doing the task. Wanting to fill the vacuum, I am tempted to jump into the next project, even though it may not be too stimulating. How can I recapture that sense of purpose?”

Peak performers learn how to use the ‘fallow’ times. These are the hours, days and months that come between feeling frustrated and enjoying a sense of flow. Making good use of these times can help to shape your creative future. Let’s explore three steps for making this happen.


* You can recognise the importance of the fallow times.

People love to experience what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called ‘a sense of flow’. When you are doing something stimulating, you feel stretched and ‘time seems to go away’. Reaching your goal is satisfying – but afterwards you may feel frustrated. You want to climb the next mountain, pursue the next adventure or whatever. It is then useful to remember the agricultural tradition of allowing a field to lie fallow. The pasture can rest, recover and become revitalised. Creative artists also know the value of ‘giving themselves permission’ to be fallow. Providing these are used properly, fallow times can be fruitful times. The first step is to recognise and capitalise on these periods. How can this work for you? Try completing the following sentence.

The things I can do to recognise the fallow times
and then give myself permission to be fallow are:

*

* You can make good use of the fallow times.

“During the fallow times I surround myself with positive things,” said one person. “Getting up in the morning, I play my favourite music. This provides a stimulating start to the day, rather than listening to politicians arguing on the radio. I spend time with friends who give me energy, rather than negative people. ‘Everything is food’, say the Zen Buddhists, so I control what I allow into my body. Because I am in a vacuum, I must set the agenda - even if it means choosing to ‘do nothing’ - rather than allow others to set the agenda. Surrounding myself with positive influences means I am eventually more likely to find a meaningful purpose.”

How can you make good use of such times? You do not need to put everything ‘on-hold’. One approach is to continue working at the ‘day job’ - whilst also gathering information about possible future challenges. At the same time, however, it is vital to surround yourself with positive influences. Try completing the following sentence.

The things I can do to make good use of the fallow times are:

*

* You can recognise when it is time to move on from being fallow and go into flow.

Providing you do the right things, eventually a stimulating ‘project’ will emerge. How will you know it if it right to move? Ask yourself: “Does this contribute to achieving my personal or professional goals? Does thinking about it give me positive energy? Will pursuing it give me a sense of fulfilment?” If the answers are “Yes,” seize the opportunity. If you are not absolutely sure, but feel tempted to spring back into action, make sure it is a challenge you respect. Otherwise, like a mountaineer who does not respect the mountain, you may suffer a catastrophe. Making good use of the fallow times means you are more likely to choose the right project. Embarking on the adventure, you can then flow, focus and finish. Try completing the following sentence.

The things I can do to recognise when it is time to
move on from being fallow and go into flow are:

*


You can find more tools for being creative in the free download The Strengths Pack - which can be found at:

http://www.thestrengthsway.com