On finding fresh eyes and ears
It is energizing to encounter something as if new, again
I arrived back in NYC on Thursday night, after nearly a month away. Recent other times I’ve returned after travel, I’ve found myself feeling like I never left. This time, it felt like I had definitely been away for a looong while. As I drove back to Brooklyn, I found myself experiencing the journey as though for the first time. Streets I’d stopped seeing because I’ve walked them so many times felt freshly rendered.Â
I’m not sure why this happens some times and others not. Most likely, a significant factor is the length of time away, but it’s not just time. I’m hunching there’s also something about how far you travel mentally from the familiar object—how much you allow it to disappear from view, and thought. Whatever the reason, it is certainly energizing to encounter something as if new, again.Â
Naturally, I’ve been thinking about how gaining this perspective can be vital when it comes to creative work—vital, but not always easy to obtain. This week, I’m sharing three thoughts on how to find fresh eyes and/or ears with our own work.Â
Big love,Â
LucyÂ
How to find fresh eyes and ears
MEMO - Find a palate cleanserÂ
The internet tells me that lemon sorbet is such a good palate cleanser between courses, because the citric acid is mild and lightly scrubs the mouth of residual tastes and neutralizes flavors. This feels like great criteria for a creative palate cleanser too. It’s not just about consuming to something, anything, else. It’s about spending deliberate time with a style of creative work that pulls you out of the automatic thinking and expectations you have when it comes to your own style. In the case of my own music, I’m wondering about trying white noise, death metal, or ‘Music For 18 Musicians’.Â
MEMO - Go day-trippingÂ
I write a lot about shaking up your thinking by visiting novel physical spaces. I also think doing this is a great way to find fresh eyes or ears. Find a neighborhood in your local area you’ve never been before. Head there for a half-day, and switch off your phone when you do. Be as fully in that neighborhood as you can. The more you surrender to your current surrounds, the fresher you’ll feel on return. At least, that’s the idea.Â
MEMO - Share your work
Seeing your work through someone else’s eyes is about on par with finding fresh eyes and ears, I’d argue. It’s also more confronting, so venture gently with this one. Trust your gut if it’s screaming at you that it would rather not share yet. That hesitance aside, if it feels safe to share your work, it’s a wonderful way of quickly finding a fresh perspective. Be sure to signal to the person with whom you’re sharing what you’re looking for. Maybe it’s a quick gut reaction, or the thing they most love, or the thing they most want to change. Whatever it is, being clear about the ask will make it easier on you both.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments: How do you find fresh eyes or ears when it comes to your own work?