I taught a creativity class last week about “Detachment.” As creative beings, detachment can be difficult. We become very attached to things, possessions, people, memories from our past, our creations themselves…

What does it mean to detach? I used to feel that if I detached from something it meant that I didn’t care about it. Now I realize that when I detach, I allow the object of my attachment the freedom of independence.

For example, I am a Mom and I am very attached (naturally) to my children. As they grow older and more independent, I have to remind myself to gradually detach from them. I have to in order to allow them to grow into self-sufficient human beings. It doesn’t mean that I don’t love them, in fact it reveals that I love them even more. Because, let’s face it detachment can be a painful process. I do it anyway, even though it hurts sometimes to watch them struggle and fail. I do it because I love them. I know that they need these experiences in order to grow and become the people they authentically are.

Detachment is letting go. Letting go of control over people, situations, and even objects.

As an artist, detachment has been a huge part of my creative development. The experience of creating can be powerful. It can reveal things to me that I never knew were there. Once they are out in the world, manifested through my creating, now I have to deal with my attachment to them. What do I do with this new object that I have created? Does it stand on its own without my love and protection? How will others judge it? How will their judgments affect me?

This is where detachment comes in to save the day, if you allow it to.

Detachment is the superhero of your creative life.

I just watched Superman last night, the one with Christopher Reeve. Yeah, that’s right. My version of detachment is a dreamboat with wavy hair and bright blue eyes that perfectly match his tights.

Nothing happens by accident. Your creations come into this world for a purpose. Sometimes that purpose is not to become a framed piece of art hanging over someone’s couch. Until you can step away from your creations with detachment, you will never see the true purpose for their existence.

As I was reflecting on the nature of detachment, I drew this in my sketchbook. As a coach and energy healer, I naturally become energetically engaged with my clients. I have to be constantly vigilant when it comes to practicing detachment.

The teacher (or owl) is quiet and calm, as the energy of her students fly about her, lifting higher and higher, becoming more and more independent as they soar into the open space of their vitalized creative life. Consciously the owl lets them go. Doing so feeds her own energetic stores for the next wave of students that need her help most. Detachment is cyclical.

Detachment is trusting that all things that are meant to come back to you will.

Like Sting sings: “Free, free, set them free.”

What does detachment look like to you? What are you feeling an unhealthy attachment to that you could release, even if just for a little while? Post in the comments below your experience of detachment. I’d love to see what you create and detach from next.

Your Creativity Coach,

Bonnie Kelso is the creator of The ABCs of Conscious Creating and the author of Vitalize Your Creative Life. She uses energy healing and creating exercises to connect people to their higher “creative” selves. For more information about her services read about her ACCESS! program or to schedule a consultation please contact her at Bonnie@CreatingYourExperience.com. Are you ready to vitalize your creative life?