I have been drawn again and again to the tree pose over the past couple of weeks, during my yoga practice. This pose is all about standing still, feeling truly grounded to the earth. It is not without tension, for one must remain balanced on one foot to hold the pose, much like a tree braces itself in the wind.

Finding pleasure in this pose has given rise to thoughts about creativity. Often a creative journey is a spiritual quest. The endeavor is all about movement – searching out and discovering something new within the world. But there can also be beauty found in standing in one place, about arriving at a point where you can finally unfurl your creative roots.

Defining such a center reminds me of the autobiography of Radhanath Swami, titled “The Journey Home.” It chronicles a grand search for a spiritual home over several continents. Although Radhanath encounters several transcendent moments, he resists adhering to a particular tradition until it finally feels right. He intuitively understands the significance of such a choice, for energy is wasted on a selection that isn’t sustainable. He ultimately finds a spiritual home in India, with a guru in the Bhakti Yoga tradition.

There is a significant moment in the creative endeavor when we cease outwardly searching for our next project. We reckon with the power of this moment, for suddenly disparate elements seems to condense around a central, animating idea. Energy coalesces around a specific enterprise, where we can relax into the details of the undertaking. The work is still as intensive, maybe even more so. Focus is demanded of us. But we are going to stake our claim to this little sapling of an idea and see what comes of it over time. We cling to it, even if it is aesthetically unbecoming, or downright ugly. It feels like home to us.

If you feel spent this day with your creative pursuit, then maybe you need to look at where you are in the process. Maybe it is time to go within and harness the strength of stillness.