At some point in our career, whether it is writing, performing or painting, we experience chapters where the pages appear blank. Suddenly the source of creative expression feels parched, as if in a desert thirsting for a muse to appear on some oasis. What once flowed effortlessly, now feels dormant. Hungering again for the inspiration that ignites us from our creative slumber, we feel desperate. Over time, if nothing comes to us, discouragement leads to self-doubt, which leads to worry or panic, as a voice whispers in our head, “Am I all dried up? Is this the beginning of the end!” The negative emotions that naturally surface from long periods of creative block can solidify this belief, which only prolongs what now may feel like a fatal virus.

But this virus can be easily cured and it doesn’t mean the end of your career. Many have faced this common struggle countless times. As with many emergencies, it’s vitally important to have a “first aid” kit on hand, when creative block strikes unexpectedly. This kit could be personalized based on your own trial and error, with what you have found works best for you. As a creative individual, you have specific needs, only you can determine. Below are just a few tips to aiding in reviving your creativity.

Access other stressors in your life

The fastest thing that dampers our creativity are external stressors, such as a troubled relationship, unexpected diagnosis of an illness, death of a loved one or relocating to a new city. These situations tend to zap our emotional and mental energy. Take the time to evaluate what is going on currently to see if there are any anxiety provoking events that might directly influence the lack of creativity. Part of being an artist is being a sensitive human being and life events can easily affect your performance or reduces your motivation to go to the canvas. Therefore, allow yourself enough time to process these stressors, by talking them over with a trusted friend or therapist, or journaling about them. By becoming aware of what might be affecting you creatively, can help you better understand the sudden onset of those dry periods.

Surrender to the moment

Much of the time our thoughts are either, in the past, reflecting on events that have already occurred, or in the future, projecting what has not yet happened. Both, limit our connection to the “now.” Our thoughts habitually label, criticize, judge or interpret. We judge the present moment by comparing it to times when our creativity could barely be contained on the canvas or page. Quickly we jump to fear or worry, afraid somehow our creative well has surely dried up.

Through a practice called mindfulness, one learns to sit with whatever arises in the present moment without judgment or interpretation. By sitting with the uncomfortableness and simply being with whatever is, you allow yourself the opportunity to fully accept your present situation. In other words, letting go of the struggle to fix or understand it and instead, surrendering to it, may relieve you of the internal conflict or anxiety around creative block.

Creative field trip

Learn to recognize when it is a good time to step away from the sculpture, novel or dance composition to take a creative field trip. This gives you a chance to partake of other artistic forms, whether it be strolling through a museum or a botanical garden, listening to beautifully composed music or exploring an art book in a bookstore. Rent a movie that is visually stimulating and thought provoking. Sometimes, just being around other creative individuals, discussing any topic that moves them can get the juices stirred up. Spend an hour or so doing something creative that is outside of your usual medium. If you are writer, take a painting or sculpture class. If you are a musician do some journaling or drawing. Giving your creativity an alternate focus, may be just the right catalyst to unblock the flow.

Expose yourself to other work in your medium

If you are a poet, sometimes it helps to read other poet’s work that you admire. If you are painter, thumbing through art books containing work from other painters, can help cultivate new inspiration. Some creative people fear that if they don’t come up with ideas completely on their own, then it will lack originality. However, you should not be expected to create in a vacuum. I am a firm believer in the universal law of abundance, and creativity gives birth to more creativity. Stimulation outside of your own internal process can jump start that part of you that had been starved for creative nourishment. The gift of being an artist and innovative thinker, is the ability to pull from different resources while, creatively molding it to become your own. For this reason, surrounding yourself with creative resources plays a huge part in maintaining the health and wellbeing of your creative energy.

Move energy from the brain to the body

Sometimes individuals in the expressive arts have a tendency to exist too much in their heads. Creativity not only exists in the mind, but also in the body. Shifting the energy from the mental to physical may allow space to create more freely. Whether it’s taking a yoga class or going for a walk, not only does your body release the “feel good” chemicals, it dissolves accumulated energy stuck in areas of your body. This also helps you to focus and channel energy elsewhere after spending hours trying to force a creative experience.

Return to what’s familiar

Sometimes the inaction that results from creative block keeps you trapped in the cycle of not producing. Try painting or writing something that is familiar, or perform a piece that you have rehearsed a thousand times before. Do something you can do in your sleep. Returning to something you know you do well, can move you out of paralysis and back into a place where flow can be occur again.

Be compassionate to yourself

We are often our worse critics. Being hard on our selves only delays recovery and prolongs creative block. You are uniquely human and not a machine, producing multiple streams of the same product. Learning to embrace your current situation and trusting that this season will pass, only prepares you to face future dry spells with resilience. Treat yourself with compassionate encouragement as you would for a child. We would never expect a child to learn to walk over night, nor would we scold them for falling. Instead we would encourage them back to their feet to try again. Tell your “creative child” it’s “okay.”

When creative block comes knocking at one’s door, we should not fear it, but instead, embrace it. Like the changing colors of the autumn leaves, we go in and out of phases, always in transition. This is a healthy and normal process of our on going creative evolution and necessary in becoming the artist we desire to be.

©2008 Lisa A. Riley. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reproduced or used on other websites without permission.