It’s getting colder outside and the lights go out every day at 5pm here in Romania. I’m in this frenzy of trying to fill my vitamin D-deprived body with hot coffee just to boost my dopamine a lil bit.
But I’m here with you! Finding my will to write about something that I think some (maybe many) of you encountered in your lives so far.
Today I want to talk about one of the most common things that we encounter as creatives and creators. In these scary yet quite fascinating moments, we feel blocked, dissatisfied, and even helpless at times.
You know I’m always honest with you about what I go through and I don’t like to sugarcoat anything. So let me tell you something about me:
I’ve been feeling very dissatisfied with my work lately. I feel like I reached a plateau and I’m just recycling the same things over and over. I’m in a comfort zone and it’s the scariest thing for me. I found a visual recipe and I’m using it again and again. I’m ruminating over this really bad but you can’t really see this through the social media lens. (as usual)
If you’re like me, you tend to see the disadvantages of this specific situation. Maybe we need to get a project done, we have tight deadlines or we need to constantly come up with something new to stay relevant and “loved” in this fast-paced world.
But what if we just embraced the moment? From my experience, some things are inevitable and there’s no point in avoiding them — and this is one of them. For me, it feels like I’m in moving sand. If you fight the sand, it will eat you alive at some point. So the best option you have is to stand still.
I want to talk about my personal experience with this and maybe give you some insights about how you could approach these inevitable moments.
I’m no expert but honestly, I had so many of these phases in my life so far that I would dare to say I’ve become a bit of a professional creative blocker!
What if these moments where we feel stuck actually try to give us a hint about what’s going on deep down in us? For me, when I hit one of these moments it’s usually my red alert button signaling it’s time to do something.
A loud voice announces in the dusty corridors of my mind: “It’s time to expand, it’s time to grow Livia!” And I’m like: “Do I really have to? Again?!”
Sometimes it’s annoying. Why does life think I have to learn lesson after lesson after lesson? Will it stop eventually? And I’m already giving myself an answer as I write this: nope.
And you know what? It’s actually good if you come to think about it. When we stop learning, we stop growing, and when we stop growing — we go into slow decay. Some of the most inspiring and well-contented people I met throughout my life had this thing in common: they were curious and never lost their ability for child-like fascination.
So when we hit one of these moments of blockage, I think it’s important that we try to look at it with curiosity rather than fear. I know, easier said than done but let’s just try our best — it’s enough! :)
Here’s a list of the things I do when I’m going through these moments. They might not work for everyone but it’s worth a try:
This one is the most obvious: don’t force it. Do something completely unrelated to your work. Go out with people, maybe at a party. Take a walk and look at the clouds and plants around you. Get some groceries and buy your favorite dessert. Watch an old movie and get teleported back in time. Cook something nice with a friend or your partner. Call your parents. (they miss you)
Don’t forget to take care of your body. Ask yourself: “What do I need right now?”Everyone keeps saying this like a broken machine but it’s true - get a good night's sleep! It becomes imperative after you hit 25 (trust me, I feel it)
Move your body. Blast your most cheesy music and dance. Maybe put on some sexy music and dance. Get in touch with your sensual self. It lies very close to creativity.
Connect with yourself a bit more in-depth. I know every Instagram psychologist and self-taught-guru keeps playing the journaling card and it gets annoying. But hear me out: there’s a huge difference when you actually write what you are thinking. Putting your thoughts on paper actually gives them a physical form. When you write out what you’re thinking, it gives you clarity and a certain order. Our train of thought is usually dispersed and chaotic. (at least for me) But when we put a conscious effort to identify our thoughts/ fears/ ideas it’s basically like Marie Kondo is coming to rearrange our house. Throw out the unused and unloved items and keep what actually brings joy.
Change the scenery around you. When I feel stuck mentally I usually go crazy and start rearranging my furniture in the studio. I keep moving stuff around until I feel my Feng Shui is done and the Chi is flowing happily again. Move your furniture around. Put some fresh flowers in a vase. It’s like redecorating without spending any money! Your space will feel different but with the same stuff in it. This always does the move for me.
Take a trip if you can. For me, it’s always a good thing to completely distance myself from my usual scene. I sometimes start to feel like the world is so huge but we just choose to move around in our tiny little mazes. We think we have freedom but we choose to stay in our little comfy world. It’s always interesting to travel and see how other people lead their lives in their own self-generated labyrinths.
Cry. Yes, you read it right. Give yourself space for a good cry. Don’t keep your emotions contented. I always give myself permission for a good cry and I come back refreshed and puffy at the same time. Refreshed mentally and all puffy in my face. I would say it’s a good exchange.
Remember that you have a gift. What I mean is that you are gifted with a different kind of mind and vision — you see things in a certain way. And although right now you’re a bit lost, you’ll stretch back to your original form. And it’s one of the most amazing things to be able to see things creatively. To be able to nest ideas and look at things through a certain lens. Not everybody has this so remember when times are demanding that you have a gift. And it's a gift that keeps on giving to others as well. That’s remarkable.
Put the technology aside for a bit. Take a break from your phone for a day or two. I know, it instantly teleports you into a caveman feeling. You feel you’re missing out. But it might also feel like you’re reinstalling your operating system. This one is very hard for me personally and to be honest I never manage to do this. Maybe you are stronger than me! Try it out. :)
Collaborate. I think right now in our society the focus is put a lot on individuality. At least for me, this is how I always felt — I have to do everything by myself. Sometimes you can’t and you shouldn’t be that independent. Think of a person you like/ admire and propose them a collaboration. It can also be an unusual one! Maybe your fields of work are totally different but you can work together on a project. Try to see how can you merge your visions. Exchange ideas and who knows, something wonderful might come out.
Look at the uncomfortable things. Sometimes we avoid the answers but we usually have them in us. We know what we have to do but maybe we’re not ready to accept some heartbreaking truths. Try identifying what you don’t like about yourself or the work you are doing right now. Put your finger on what hurts the most. Sometimes the touch of a finger can eventually become a caress.
Set expectations and goals. When you feel the tension slowly lifting a bit — start planning. It’s good to have short-term and long-term goals. It’s also good to dream big but try not to put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Balance is always key. Maybe it’s time to rethink your objectives and redefine something about you. A creative block might occasionally be a subtle indicator that tells you it’s time to shed some old things and evolve.
And this is pretty much all I could get out of me at this moment! I hope these will help you a bit in your journey. Writing these down surely gave me some clarity about what I should personally do next. Sometimes I preach and forget to practice.
