In what is now known as the House Divided Speech, Abraham Lincoln stated that, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Although he was referring to the conflict surrounding slavery in the United States at that time, I think his statement holds true today in our personal and creative lives.

Think of yourself as a house. If you are not unified internally, or are having competing thoughts, habits, or priorities, your “house”—and your creative endeavors—will crumble.

The solution is to get clear about what you really truly want. Create a detailed vision for your life. Get laser focused about what you will and won’t do moving forward.

Say yes to the dreams in your heart.

And then say no to all distractions and detractors.

Creativity flourishes when our external actions reflect an internal alignment. Unify your house and stand firm.