How Getting Lost Helps in Your Creative Journey

When I first got my driver’s license, the freedom to take myself anywhere was super exciting. But I had no idea how to get where I wanted to go. So my dad gave me some great advice to help me find my way: drive until you get lost, then find your way back. This was supposed to help me find my way to where I wanted to go.

So I did get lost, a lot. In fact, I got really good at it. So good, that it’s still one of the things I’m best known for today, though I prefer the term “abstract travelling.” My problem was that I was good at the getting lost part, but not the part about paying attention to how I got back. Getting lost, then paying attention to how you get back aren’t just helpful for new drivers, but also for people exploring new creative territory.

When Getting Lost is the Best Direction

When we start a new creative project, the possibilities can seem limitless. Someone else’s work may have inspired us, but we don’t always know how they got there. So we might look to how-to videos or articles to get us started or know how to use the tools that will help in our project creation.

We can sometimes stall in this stage, because it can be stressful and sap some of our creative energy. My first instinct is to look for books and online resources to help me understand how to get where I want to go. But this learning process isn’t always fun for me and can be very frustrating.

Sometimes you need to just jump in and get lost. Going beyond your knowledge and skill is sometimes the best way to get where you wanted to go. Because you’ll learn a lot if you’re paying attention.

Get Lost, But Pay Attention

In your creative journey, getting lost is only helpful if you pay attention to how you get back to the right direction. To get lost, you have to start from where you know before moving into unfamiliar and uncomfortable new paths. Sometimes no direction seems clear or guaranteed. This is when it’s most important to choose the direction that makes the best sense and explore it.

Your instincts are either going to take you where you want to go or you’ll quickly find that it’s the wrong direction. That’s okay. Learning what to do often comes from learning what not to do. Just pay attention to what led you in the wrong direction in the first place and how you find the correct path.

Learning from false starts is important while working on your current project, but can also be helpful on future projects. So try taking notes in the process, or keep your false starts around for later review before starting a similar project. Having these resources on hand can save time and frustration. When you’re not treading the same wrong paths, you go further next time and find better paths to completing your creative projects.

Have fun getting lost on your next creative journey.