I believe most “Creatives” (artists, writers, cooks, designers, entertainers, and entrepreneurs) have their versions of unfinished work. It could be an attempt at a recipe that didn’t come out quite right or a business that didn’t take off.

As a writer, I know that all of my unfinished works held great promise in the beginning. An idea would spring to mind and the creative juices would begin to flow. Everything seems possible at the start of the creative process. Words come easily and the creative energy draws you in. The idea is new and bright. The possibilities are endless.

But like so many other Creatives out there, I have experienced moments where a piece of work will be progressing along smoothly and then for some mysterious reason it just fizzles out. There is no finishing it. No reviving the work or pushing through the “block.” I am left with no other choice but to abandon it. Much like an incomplete thought or sentence, the momentum is lost and the moment passes. I mourn its passing. I am left feeling angry, frustrated and sometimes sad. All of the energy and time that was spent feels like a waste.

Our experiences in life have trained us to believe that unless our work is completed, it holds no value and should be discarded. In so many other areas of our lives, we are expected to complete tasks and are judged upon the end result. So we begin to treat the creative process the same way––as a task. We attempt to complete the work at any cost just to be finished with it, so that we, and others, may judge it. This judgment shapes the way we see ourselves, and our work.

This way of thinking can be counterproductive for Creatives, because creativity isn’t logical and can’t be tasked; innately we know this. Inspiration comes in waves. You must ride the wave to enjoy it, meeting the shore, happy for the experience. When we recognize that these unfinished works/failed attempts are an important part of the creative process, we realize that unlike most things we do in life, we don’t need a reason to create. By allowing ourselves true creative freedom, we can begin to cultivate a space deep within that is open to possibilities and makes room for ideas to grow and flourish without fear or expectation. We must continuously tell ourselves, and each other, that joy is in the doing, and that beauty lies in our ability to create.

Each one of our creative expressions acts like a mirror that gives us valuable insight into who we are and where we are on our journey. And although it’s human nature to judge, to question if the work is good enough, we must learn that it really doesn’t matter if it’s good enough or if the work is finished, in progress, or incomplete. What matters is that we continue to express ourselves, to give birth to new ideas and to ride the wave of inspiration when it comes.

Lately, I find myself looking at my unfinished works as exercise for my imagination, and I think it’s healthy to let our imagination run wild. Like any other muscle, it needs to be used in order to stay flexible and vibrant. I write to express myself and explore my thoughts. I am not writing as a means to an end, so why should I rush the journey? I try not to judge my work but simply let it be. Beauty, Art, and inspiration show up in so many different ways, and I try to embrace them all, in whatever form they may take. When we wait for the “perfect idea” or the “right time” in order to express ourselves, we become stagnant, and the imagination withers from lack of use.

If we let them, unfinished works can serve as wonderful reminders of all the endless possibilities that we have the remarkable ability to bring to life. Every time we allow ourselves to engage in the creative process, regardless of the outcome, we stretch and grow, continuing to push our own personal boundaries. It can be so liberating to express ourselves, knowing that no matter what the outcome, it was an enriching experience.

In being true to our creative spirit, we can begin to find value in all aspects of our creativity and simply allow the work to be an expression of ourselves. As our focus shifts from the end result to simply enjoying the act of creating, we can see that much like the things we create, we too will always be unique pieces of unfinished work. Our growth as Creatives is a constant work in progress, and there is much to be learned (and also appreciated) from our imperfections.