Taking Time to Reflect

In this blog, Jessica Carson shares some of the questions she uses to reflect on her work, what motivates and inspires her, and how to decide into which projects to invest her passion:

Taking time to reflect

As a creative person I love the excitement of new projects, new challenges, new connections. I feel very lucky to work in a field where I can use my creativity. I find it hard to say no to the possibility to be involved in new projects. I decided in the last few years that it was important to reflect more on how I use my energy and reflect on how to make decisions about how I spend my energy and time.

The core reflection has been about how I can be satisfied and fulfilled in my work but also about the contribution I would like to make. It is clear to me that the world needs to become, fairer, more tolerant and sustainable. I want to grow as a global citizen and to create spaces where others can grow.

Having engaging in an in-depth review of and reflection on my practice over an extended period of time, I summarized my desires, values, and motivations. It has been a very enriching experience. I am sharing these as an encouragement to others to reflect on their practices.

What desires are reflected in my work?

• to connect.
• to feel.
• for change.
• to create.
• to initiate, to bring ideas to realization.
• to collaborate.
• to engage with other perspectives .
• to see things within ‘the bigger picture.’
• to contribute to a society that is enriched through more voices being heard.

What type of spaces do I want to create when I work creatively with others?

• A space where connections are made and empathy develops
• A safe space where people are comfortable to share
• A hopeful space
• A space where ownership is shared and everyone contributionis values
• A space of transformation
• A space that nurtures resilience and well-being
• A space where curiosity is developed and we can see the ‘bigger picture’/ other perspectives
• A space where stereotypes are challenged.

What values do I want to reflect and nurture in my work?

• Creativity and passion
• Inclusion
• Active participation
• Understanding and empathy
• Recognising and promoting multiple perspectives, intelligences and ways of expressing and learning
• Response-ability (ability to respond)
• Alliance with diverse groups
• When I feel a connection with those I engage with and get a sense that they are making connections
• When I feel authentic and that those I engage with feel they can be themselves and express themselves authentically
• When I find flow in my work, especially when it is a collaborative piece of work and I feel the ‘magic’ offluid processes
• When I feel something that has been hidden comes to light, hidden talents, hidden perspectives, and hidden opinions
• When the unexpected happens
• When I suggest a creative form or concept and give it over to experimentation and it becomes something completely new and fresh and beyond my scope of imagination
• When I feel like I stepped inside someone else’s experience, emotions, stories
• When images give new insights and help to find new ways to express concepts, emotions and learning
• When there is feeling of achievement
• Relationships that have developed within diverse groups while engaging in creative processes together
• When I see people becoming alive through create engagement
• When I feel motivated about change and see others getting motivated to make changes for themself or in the context of working towards societal changes
• When I feel I have grown and learned throughout my encounters with others