Challenge, risk, and the creative process…

“You have to reject one expression of the band, FIRST, before you get to the next expression. And, in between you have nothing. You have to risk it all.” This is the melody line from U2’s latest masterpiece, a documentary titled From The Sky Down. Studying this film has opened my eyes to a piece of the creative puzzle. And, more importantly, I’ve learned a ton about why few bands, businesses, couples, and communities of any kind, keep it together for long.

Few, choose to risk it all.

Funny, it is the only way forward. Think about it. Is there any way to grow without embracing this sense of loss, without leaving the comfort of your routine, without challenging yourself to attempt something you’ve yet to master, and without risking that you just might fail? Nope, there’s not. You gotta face your fears and take some risks along your builder’s journey. Your very existence depends on this risk to evolve. Funny, huh…

I recall listening to U2’s gem for the sixth time and “hearing” something for the first. At moment 40 I heard the words that began this blog. I had never heard them here before. I had listened to this five previous times and had only heard the rejection thought at the very end. I had caught the melody line, don’t get me wrong. I had, however, missed the genius that Bono had taken nothing for granted. He had purposely repeated himself at moment 40 and moment 86.

Remember, you too have an audience that mostly misses your point. Don’t forget to get really comfortable repeating yourself. And, don’t hold onto where you’ve been for too long. If you do you’ll find yourself running out of energy like the Stones, still singing about brown sugar. Go ahead.

Risk it all…