Creative people are wonderful people. They provide renewal, beautiful things and surprises. They also often have a another ‘charming’ quality: they tend to be quite chaotic. And they don’t like rules, structure, regulations or boundaries! Many creative people can’t deal with them. They want freedom, deciding for themselves and being able to give in to their impulses. Rules and agreements get in the way. So it seems.

Creative people are sometimes proud of being chaotic and they can even hide their lack of achievements behind it. “Oh well, I’m just sloppy”. Or, “Oh well, creativity and structure just don’t mix”.

Does creativity exist without structure?

I think it is a big misconception that creativity can exist without structure. The most inventive, creative people actually benefit from having a clear daily routine and an uncluttered workspace. Is it nicer to work on a drawing on a full or an empty table?

How structured are creative people?

Creative people, artists who produce work, have their own structure. Artists put their brushes in or above the turpentine every day in the same way. Scrap bookers have entire cabinets with neatly sorted paper, stamps, molds and embossing pens. Handymen and tinkerers hang their tools on boards, the outlines neatly drawn, so that each tool has its own place after the job is done. The more structure and overview there is, the more productive they are!

Checklist: how structured are you already?

See which of the examples below you recognize. The more you recognize, the more structured you work and the more productive you will be! And, maybe this list can be an inspiration for you to change a couple of things in your life!

1. You go to bed at a certain time every day.
2. Everyone in your household knows where everything is.
3. You use a checklist for doing your groceries, in the order in which you walk through the supermarket.
4. The folders in your computer are numbered. They are not alphabetically arranged but in order of importance to you.
5. Your keys can always be found in the same place in your house.
6. When you get up in the morning, you always follow a set routine. First do this, then that.
7. You make sure that addictive temptations (candy, cigarettes) are always out of sight.
8. You have an overview of the clothing that matches well.
9. You are always involved with your hobby at the same time each week.
10. You have a menu of the 7 meals you are going to eat the coming week and buy all the ingredients for them at the same time.
11. You have a checklist for packing your suitcase when you travel.
12. You have created your own space for doing your hobby.
13. All of your tools, equipment and craft supplies are where they should be.
14. You’ve got guidelines in your mind such as “Tranquility, cleanliness and consistency” or, “You can have a good rest after working” and “Take regular breaks”. Or, “Take care of the living creatures first” (people, animals and plants).
15. A schedule or overview of appointments made with housemates is hanging on the fridge.
16. Your shopping bags (reusable ones) are in a particular place.
17. Everything in the house has its own set place. You remind your housemates about this when they leave things laying around.
18. Tables, counter tops and work surfaces are kept clear.
19. First Aid supplies are in a set place on each floor.
20. Your windowsills are kept as free as possible.
21. Everything is kept neatly in the compartments of your handbag or suitcase. There is nothing unnecessary in them.
22. Garden tools hang together neatly.
23. You have a separate folder on your computer for filling out your tax return, making it easy each year to find the necessary information.
24. You eat at set times.
25. In the evening you get your clothes ready for the next day, including matching tie, belt or jewelry.

Do you create structure?

This is an ode to all secretaries, personal organizers and people who support other people’s work! Thanks to their ability to organize, keep an overview and create structure, thinkers, inventors and creative people are able to “do their thing”. Without people creating structure, there would be no great accomplishments! Is it in your genes, as if it were your mission, to create structure? Realize that a lot of creative people could really use your help!

Have you got through the chaos?

The biggest problem that creative people have is that they become so lost in what they are doing that they forget the world around them. If they don’t try to keep things in their surroundings in order, many projects will get bogged down through a lack of overview and structure. “Where is the masking tape? Oh well, I’ll do without it!” and the chaos around them forms an even greater obstacle.

What does the MIR-Method do for chaotic creative people?

If you do the MIR-Method, you will notice after a while that you become more structured. You have a better overview of everything around you and you can keep things in order better. It’s a feeling that comes from within and it causes you to be able to create. People get the urge to clean out the garage or shed and make one of those wonderful tool boards. Or they empty an entire cupboard and then replace all of their craft supplies neatly and in order in it. A feast for the eyes! Clear off your table and start a wonderful new project in no time! Clearing up causes you to start!

Which steps cause you to get your house and your life in order?

The MIR-Method helps creative people most especially through steps 2 and 7. With step 2 ‘Detox all toxicity’, your body cleanses itself, including your mind! There is more room for your ability to think and in your ability to imagine. This also happens via step 8 ‘Optimize chakras and aura’, by which chakra 6, also called the “third eye”, works more clearly. This chakra can be found between your eyebrows. If this chakra is completely free, you will be able to visualize what you would like to make with your mind’s eye.

Step 7 ‘Fulfill basic needs’ is familiar with a need that is of great importance to creative people: structure. It might be the most unpleasant one of all. “Yuck, structure everywhere”, yet once structure becomes a part of your life, you will notice that your creativity becomes much more vibrant!

Even though I only name a few of the steps here, always do all 9 steps for the MIR-Method to work optimally!

And what about you? Have you noticed that you’re creating more structure in your life, helping you to accomplish more? I’d love to hear about it! Please write about it below. Thank you!
Personal questions should always be asked of a MIR-Method coach!

My wish for you is that your life may be wonderfully structured so you can freely express yourself creatively!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes

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P.S. Are you not yet familiar with the MIR-Method? Please go to the homepage: www.mirmethod.com You can watch the video there and also the instruction video. Register on the homepage to receive the newsletter and 6 weeks of coaching e-mails for extra support!