Confession: I haven’t felt creative this week.
+Perhaps it’s because I was on an awesome vacation last week and am back at my (very good, but not always inspiring) day job this week.
+Perhaps it’s because I’ve got a cold.
+Perhaps it’s because I haven’t exercised enough.
+Perhaps it’s because fill in the blank with your reason here .
I don’t know why I haven’t felt creative this week, but in many ways it doesn’t even matter. I know that if I focus on not feeling creative, I’ll do nothing. I won’t create.
I still pumped out two commercial scripts, finished editing a video and put the finishing touches on my soon-to-be released e-book 10 Commandments for Creatives (get more info on it HERE).
Pushing Through
Don’t you love those times when the creativity flows like a gushing, bubbling, vibrant river of life, spilling over the banks in such fervor that it’s unable to be contained?
I love those times when my senses are overwhelmed with ideas and energy to implement those ideas. They’re times when an idea comes and an hour later the project is well underway (or even completed)! Has that happened to you?
But…what happens when the river’s more like a creek?
When the waterfall dwindles to a trickle?
When you see more riverbed than water?
I’m learning that being creative is a choice.
It’s painful at times to push through and simply do the work. I like what Jason Vana said on this post earlier this week:
“I don’t always feel inspired (like today), but I still push through and do the hard work. It’s worth it.”
Yes. It’s worth it.
When You Don’t Feel Creative
When you don’t feel creative, create.
When you don’t feel inspired, create.
When you don’t have an idea, ideate.
When you don’t know what to do, do something.
[box options]Our creativity flourishes when we experience the joy of moving from ‘work’ to ‘pleasure’ during the creative process.[/box]
Question: How are you staying inspired?
Some time ago I needed to finish a project but I couldn’t ‘work it up’. So, I paused and took communion. Afterward there was a freshness to the project.
Great suggestion Michael!
I have felt empty this week. Made me realize I need to do some things to fill up.
Yeah Larry… that whole ‘input/output’ thing.
Sometimes it’s better to read/take a walk/make a meal than write, right?
My excuse for not being creative is…my dog cornered a skunk next to the air-conditioning unit, under the windows. I’ve spent three days, using up all the bottles of Febreeze, pouring bleach water and Dawn over the area. I had to bathe my dog after lugging him upstairs, throwing him in the tub and scrub-a-dub-dub. I threw out his dog collar and the clothes I was wearing. Whew! I guess that made for a creative post.
Now THAT is a creative story! 😉
Love it Annette! Thanks for stopping by!
kismet. i was having this conversation not long ago with a friend…
i’ve found accepting that i don’t feel creative/inspired is a good step. then, taking a breath, maybe a moment away, maybe a conversation, maybe a walk… i know for sure surrounding myself with others who are inspired whether it is in person, people/projects online, or through blogs, such as yours helps me to power through the days when i’m not sure of what the heck i’m doing.
Just admitting it is a huge hurdle right!?
I’m so glad you wrote that… I think others can fully agree that we’ve all been there (or will all be there) when we have to admit it and reset ourselves by doing the things you suggest.
Humbled and thankful you find this blog helps you out. That’s why I do it and I’m most grateful 😉
It is so encouraging to read about others’ struggles, which are the same as mine. It is so easy to think that everyone else has it all put together…which is just not true. We must resist the resistance and be better for it!
Just knowing we’re not alone helps the journey through that resistance!
Thanks for dropping by Crystal!
Thanks for sharing this!
“…if I focus on not feeling creative, I’ll do nothing. I won’t create.”
Isn’t that the truth for all of us? It is for me, anyway. Staying creative for me involves the constant reminder that creativity does take effort. It takes making an active choice to do, or be. If nothing else, I try look at an old idea from a new perspective…
I hear ya Jaklyn!
I think many people WANT to be creative and they WAIT for it to happen. It rarely (if ever) will.
It’s work, not a curse, but work.
Thanks for your comment (and your awesome inspirational pics on Instagram too!)