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  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.
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