OH NO! A Creative Block

As an artists, I am always ready to be inspired. BUT what if you are hit with a Creative Block?

Finding My Way Back:

January was a doozy. I came back from Holiday Break ready to run with all my ideas, my goals were set and clear...I had everything in front of me to succeed. And WHAM...I was hit with a creative block. What is a Creative Block ? Well....Creative blocks, or barriers to inspiration, can be described as the inability to access one’s internal creativity. Those in creative professions—writers, musicians, performers, artists—are often & more likely to be affected by creative blocks, which can last for days, weeks, months, or even years.

When creative blocks surface, they can affect work, performance, and well-being. In other words... IT TOTALLY SUCKS!

A block might often be a temporary condition, but when one relies on creative construction to make a living, even a short-lived creative block may cause anxiety, doubt, and fear. Some creators might come to doubt their future ability to create and become distressed. Depression and feelings of worthlessness may also result. Further, because producing and creating is a significant aspect of the identity of writers, artists, and other creators, creative blocks can have a negative impact on one's identity or sense of self. The effects this can have on self esteem may lead to the development of self-doubt.

This Creative Block hit me hard. I was definitely going down a dark rabbit hole. Every day that passed... I was getting more and more stressed. I have BIG BEAUTIFUL dreams and goals for 2021 that I am going to achieve. But this block and self doubt were definitely getting in my way. I had to slow down and stop the spinning. I just painted. I have done numerous paintings within this last month that you will never ever see. They were part of my process to get past this dark place. AND I am happy to announce. I am back to my creative self! It took me a month. I am trying to look back at this past month and find gratitude in my failure. Which is one step to success.

Here are a few ways to mute that self doubt....

1. Intuitive Meditation Painting

Intuitive painting is a powerful intuitive, spiritual and creative practice. It’s designed to transform your relationship to your intuition. To devote yourself to hearing it. To truly listening to it. To actually knowing when it’s speaking to you. Intuitive painting is the practice of meditating with a brush in your hand. As you release your attachment to judgment and planning and some future goal the practice allows you to open more to presence and spaciousness and self compassion. To the dreamtime and the invisible realms. To a deeper connection with the spark of spirit and your innate divine wisdom. (Doesn't that sound dreamy!)

2. Listen to your Heart

Do not listen to the noise, believe in your own ideas. Negative chatter around you can influence the decisions you make and how you do things. It’s a sad fact, but sometimes we are so influenced by other opinions that we end up lowering our aims.

Stop asking for validation.