Why does creativity seem dry and lifeless at times? Long stretches without inspiration and motivation can feel discouraging because it can leave us wondering if we’ll ever ride that creative wave again.
It can feel as though we’re in midst of a dark night of the creative soul.
I’m sure you’ve been there.
I have as well, and it’s not fun.
It’s achingly painful to feel abandoned by my Muse, even though I’m the one who has done the abandoning. My issue isn’t writer’s block. Instead, as my sister, Liz—an artist herself—said to me many years ago, it’s from living “too tight”.
This tightness is all too familiar. It’s like being in bondage energetically.
As a business owner it’s easy to get pulled into perpetual doing mode, when I’m “turning over every rock” in search of better income streams and success.
Being attentive to trends, networking, creating revenue streams, cultivating relationships—both online and offline—are part of being an entrepreneur. But, and this is essential: once we’ve done what we can, we must let go and TRUST.
Trying to control every little detail doesn’t work. In fact, the need to control gets in the way of the very thing we want. It makes us tight and fearful, and that takes us out of the flow. When we’re out of the flow, we cannot work with our Muse in an authentic way and express ourselves creatively.
Sometimes it feels as though my work life has hijacked my creative life (and perhaps it has). As another entrepreneur said to me recently, “Writing a book feels like a luxury.” If it’s not bringing in money, then we tell ourselves that we cannot afford the time to invest in it.
The weekend writers and artists that work full time during the week and receive a regular paycheck may have limited time to create, but because they’re not in hustle mode, (unless they don’t like their job and are trying to find another one), tend to be more open creatively. In a sense, they feel safe and secure, unlike the roller coaster-riding business owner whose income is often all over the place.
This is perhaps the reason some artists and writers have worked at dull, full-time jobs: to take that worry out of the equation. Jobs are much less secure than they used to be, so perhaps the world of full-time work has its own bumps and curves.
So, what to do about this “tightness” that blocks flow?
How can one loosen one’s grip and enjoy the ride?
Here are some things I do to let go:
Deep mindful breathing
Meditation (I’m especially enjoying guided meditation lately.)
Long walks in nature
Reading fiction
Listening to or reading the works of spiritual teachers
Attending groups and meetings that inspire me
Spending time with creative friends (offline and online)
Sometimes, I simply have to feel the feelings of resistance and sit down and write anyway—not in a forceful, mean way (that never works), but in a gentle, but firm way. I sit down and listen, and then I begin. It may feel funky at first, but once I get warmed up, the muscle memory kicks in and the words simply flow to the page.
This may be more difficult than it sounds for many people. The reason it works so well for me is that I’ve spent many years and thousands of hours cultivating a relationship with my Muse, so when she even senses I’m ready and open to receive, she’s right there.
My purpose in writing this is to acknowledge that all of us, no matter how long we’ve been writing (or creating art), experience these dry spells.
Don’t get discouraged or give up.
You’re not alone.
Do some self-care.
Be kind with yourself.
There’s always a new day and a new chance to express yourself creatively. If a gentle nudge doesn’t work, then be firm and set a timer, and agree to only work creatively until the timer goes off. You’ll discover that the block wasn’t in the doing at all, but it was in getting started or thinking about getting started.
See your resistance is a stubborn child that simply needs to be shown the way.
If you enjoyed this post, please show your love and click the small heart, write a comment, restack and share with your friends!
If you’re new here or frequently visit, please consider subscribing and supporting my work with your attention, love and support.
Interested in learning more about me and my work?
Check out @VictoriaFann, Dark Nights of the Creative Soul! So true- "living too tight". Makes sense as creativity is a like a muscle- it must be used or it will atrophy!
https://robinmotzer.substack.com