I haven't entirely made my peace with this process of jumping between projects, but it does seem to work for me (an INFP). After ten years of never finishing anything, this year, I finally completed and published three stories within days of each other by just jumping between them. The thought "I don't have to choose just one" fills me with relief and excitement, but some part of me still screams that I'd be more efficient if I just learned how to concentrate and write one book at a time.
This Video was so helpful! I feel the same. Wether it is writing, painting or reading, I always felt I have to finish one first. When I don't allow myself to jump, I finish none if them. So at least I'm reading five books at once or do more than one project at the same time 😅
Just wrapped a little cathartic sobfest after watching this. A lifetime of nobody understanding that boredom is truly painful for me, and my own self not understanding why I can’t work in a straight line. Both have caused me such much distress. They will not now. Lauren, I don’t have words for how grateful I am for the difference your work is making in my experience of my life and self. Thank you barely scratches the surface. A very grateful INFP, Amy
Wow, this is life changing. I’m a writer and, more recently, a gardener. I garden with wild abandon, starting “too many” projects at once and allowing myself to get excited about possibilities. It’s all mine and I get so much pleasure out of it. My mom has said multiple times she wonders “if I’ve taken on too much.” What she doesn’t get us that I don’t care how it looks! I do it because it feeds me… And I know it will look incredible someday. I’m not in a rush. But with writing………. I was trying to pen myself in (nice pun). I had no idea how strangled I felt until this moment. I’ve been feeling like a failure because I’ve been struggling to finish a project. I have only ever allowed myself one project - one epic project. I’ve delayed others, thinking I needed all my brainpower for this one. Maybe I should write like I garden.
My wife is an INFP (I'm an INFJ), and this makes total sense. She naturally has multiple projects going all at once. I thought it was because she has ADHD, and that she has a tendency to overbook herself. But knowing this really helps me understand the process. Now I feel like I can be more supportive and understanding toward her methods of doing things. Thank you Lauren!
There might be an overlap between ADHD and the INFP personality. Teachers think our son may have ADHD. We're no experts so we're not sure about that. It might be true, but as two INFP parents, we are already certain that he's an INFP. It's extremely hard to focus when new ideas invite themselves to your brain non stop. There is no off switch.
Absolutely, Lauren! I think it's a little baffling for people -including many INFPs- that boredom is a trigger to move on from something rather than something to push through. This is exactly how I move through my day, cycle between 3 or 4 to things and when I get bored (or tired or both) it's time to move on. 🙂
Wonderful content as always, thank you Lauren. I’m realising I need to avoid mainstream everything. I’ve just finished one of your courses where you say that you avoid mainstream news, I’m the same. Mainstream writing advice even more. I was sucked in for so long. I beat myself up so much for having 5 or 6 projects on the go at once & not finishing anything for several years. It’s so refreshing to hear that I’m not alone in this. Plus, I juggled lots of projects before & managed to publish 9 books that way. The only difference between then & now is lots & lots of mainstream advice without realising I’m not a mainstream person. Can’t thank you enough for giving me back some hope. Going to lie on the floor & listen to the song that’s speaking to me at the moment. Thanks again.
So true, Michelle. We run on different software, so we need another manual. 🙂 Keep up hope! Even if you're the only one enjoying your work at first, creating is always worth it! No matter what you write, there is always an audience. Start small and give yourself time. Best of luck to you and lots of inspiration, but as an INFP, you probably don't need the latter. 😀
Thank you for normalizing our behaviour. This helps me feel less guilty for my quirky ways. It's sometimes hard to love yourself if this self goes so often against what is considered as "best" and "most efficient" and what is advised everywhere you look for help.
Thanks Lauren. I identify with the INFP personality type and this advice resonated. The bit about having multiple projects at once as a normal state is good to know. I do feel like I am 'supposed to' work on only one thing at a time, and work on it until it is completed, but I do in fact get bored that way
This is so spot on! I have countless unfinished stories and story ideas on my computer and my phone. I went about life never finishing a writing project until I teamed up with my husband (also an INFP) to create epic fantasy (dramatized audiobooks) together. Tossing the project to each other, back and forth, each using our strengths (outlining, brainstorming, dialogue, descriptions, voice-over, narration, sound editing, postproduction, etc.) really helps to keep the whole of the project exciting. We’ve considered jumping from one project to another, but we have our Patrons and RU-vid subscribers as accountability partners now, so we try to stick to one project, nevertheless. Moreover, we really enjoy the depth of the world we have created together and love to see it expand. So, teaming up as writers is also something that really works. With our current project, we first tried a different approach and totally failed, so doing this together is the only way for us to make it work.
Thank you Laura. Very well explained. I find that I have several projects that are never meant to be finished and simply exists to help me step back from the main ones that I want to finish at some point.
Yeah this is why I have hundreds of unfinished or recorded songs 😂 After awhile that new idea starts being old to me & I'm like I wish I would've dropped this sooner. But I've promised myself I will go lay my ideas down so I could just get them out & have it. Definitely not doing in a business hustle style. I just want to express & evolve & experience ❤
I believe this is incredible advise. But i also believe an imported part is to not be too much of a "Perfectionist" about your projects. in my experience, the best Music i write comes quite fast and from seemingly " nowhere". I believe in letting your writing just come to you from some "Magical place" is what has worked best for me. i like how "Stephen King" goes about writing. he writes the whole book in just 2-3 months. and then sets it aside for a few months before coming back to the book. But i might not have figured it all out for myself, but im on the right path.
Thank you for this video. Quick question/ thought... I'm very ready to embrace this creative cycle for myself (I already operate this way), but I also have ambition to finish projects and be more consistent with making things. I'd also love to be able to earn some money on the side from my creativity. How can I embrace how I naturally work best while also being consistent in finishing things? Because it feels like if I work on something for 4 months (RU-vid channel, Etsy, other creative business), and then stop and turn to something else for 4-5 months, I lose all momentum and have to restart things over and over. I'd like to actually grow something beyond the "beginner" phase, if you know what I mean.
