How to Break through a CREATIVE BLOCK

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Sometimes I just feel downright lazy, unproductive, and like a complete loser. I feel like I'm wasting my time and that I'm dishonoring my passions, talents, the work that's important to me.

Anyone that's dealing with anything at least remotely creative knows what I speak of. Writers call it "writer's block." And I guess a painter would call it "painter's block?" Being a naturally contemplative, calm, meditative, and take-it-easy sort of dude, I can appreciate what it means to constantly take a step back from your work, whatever it may be, and allow the mind to settle and the creative energies to reform. If it wasn't for these sort of meditative breaks of calm, tranquility, and relaxation, I wouldn't be who I am as many artists wouldn't be able to do what they do.

But sometimes we go overboard and what starts out to be a nice little break from our passions becomes a stagnancy and laziness creeps in little by little each passing day that we aren't doing what we love. Perhaps we're scared.
Perhaps we feel that it's too hard to make our mark on the world with so many other people out there. Perhaps we've lost confidence in ourselves. Perhaps all of these things.

When this happens a wall is erected between or passion and ourselves. We become cut off from our own art. Art being the product of our creativity. Artist being one who creates — painter, programmer, accountant, writer, etc. To be more exact, one who creates with love and passion and joy is the Artist. We are all Artists and perhaps most of us don't even know it.

So when you stop creating what you love, everything that you are comes to a standstill and it's as if someone presses the pause button on your life. Now you're just breathing, eating, and sleeping, but not living.

So here's a little meditation that I came up with to help you breakthrough any creative block you may be facing.

1.)Start out by building space around and inside of yourself. Space being room in your mind — don't think. Space being distance between you and any distractions — nosy parents & neighbors, unwanted noise, little kids running around, anything that can potentially distract you. Do whatever you have to do to find peace and calm throughout your body and spirt. Play soothing and inspirational music. Or perhaps do some yoga poses. Maybe go for a walk. Remember, you don't have to be physically inactive. Though I prefer to sit silently and listen to some good music, usually of soft sounds and less of words, like Sigur Ros, Radiohead, or The Flashbulb. Do this for as long as it takes to get you to that emptiness. Then, gently, almost imperceptibly, allow the passion of your art to fill you. Gradually begin to feel the joy of your passion. Feel the warmth and pleasure of your passion. Don't stick to anything, though. Remain empty. When you feel the excitement of your passion taking over, they joy, just observe it and let it flow through you. If you feel frustrated and blocked, then that's okay too, just let it flow through you. Be gentle with yourself. Remain looses, flexible, and allow yourself to float away in your passion. Do this for 15 minutes if you can.

2.) Then immediately begin your work. If you're a writer, then write. Painter, then paint. Programmer, then program. Activist, then hit the streets. Professional marijuana grower, then into your grow room! Just go do what you love. Regardless of how you feel at this point — inspired or uninspired, creative or stupid — doesn't matter, just jump into the work. Work for a bit, then stop.

3.) Completely leave your work alone for at least a few hours, preferably a day. Allow ideas to come to you during this repose and take mental notes — don't write anything down. No matter how brilliant, just let anything that comes to you just come to you. Same thing with bad feelings, feelings of laziness, unworthiness, etc.. Just let them come and flow through you. Don't hold onto anything and you'll be building up creative energy to pour into your work.

4.) Then get back to your work a day later and repeat steps 1 -3. Do this meditation for 1 - 2 weeks. And if you like the results, you may even choose to do this everyday before you start working. I do. It helps prepare my mind, body, and spirt for the creative work to come. It creates the inner path for Nature to work through me.

Terence McKenna said it best: " Nature loves courage. It shows you that it loves courage because it will remove obstacles. You make the commitment...and the world will lift you up. This is the trick."

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• creative blocks
• writers block

[laialand]

You address this part of the human condition without being dogmatic or gratuitously deep (also sometimes known as "inaccessible"), and the way you went about it makes me personally feel renewed and inspired in my creative endeavors. Feeling super appreciative, thank you:)

[Mindpetals]

@laialand thanks

[legoapple587]

I love making Youtube videos But my Voice Is so YOUNG and sometimes I just cant do it can you help me do that?

[Mindpetals]

@legoapple587 just do it!

[shaduwy]

I agree with what you are saying Dave, but it seems as though you are always skimming the top layer of the surface, I sense that you genuinely searching for the truth, and are there but again not really there.

This is my view on the issue you talked about on this video. Creativity comes from the Creator and its a gift from the most high. It comes to the individual in abundance early on in there lives, and it gradually ceases as they get older in there lifes.

[Mindpetals]

@shaduwy You're right, my friend, I am just skimming the water. I'm not even close. But I'm on the journey and that's all that really matters. Thank you for your teachings and blessings — I need all the guidance I can receive :)

[mindstormsabrewin]

@Aleque I used to agree with that. But now I think we say that to justify the hellish, anti-lives we are stuck in. As if something good can come from adversity. As I get older I realize that we live in a psychic prison we call society. We are not ALLOWED to do what we want. We are controlled from birth to death by forces beyond our understanding. We are being sucked dry. This is hell. I want to make my music. Instead I'm just surviving... not living. The rich party as we die. They have won.

[WickedKnight07]

How do you know for sure if you lost your passion?

[Aleque]

if only i had freedom to live in a secluded place in nature somewhere, away from the big-city-madness, I would be creative as well.. but now I have to finish my school..

[Aleque]

@mindstormsabrewin I heard somewhere that pain is the biggest source for creativity and motivation.

[JacksenPierce]

A re-connection needs to take place... *Sip*

[mindstormsabrewin]

@mindstormsabrewin I've tried to make my music since I was 10. I'm 40 now. It's over. The people around me were insane. Grew up broke. Chaos. Poverty. Worked all my life just to occasionally get a piece of gear here and there. I used to love making music. But the reality of my life is that I'm going to die as a factory worker. My music will remain in my head and torture me until I take it to the grave. Creativity is for rich people. You have not been destroyed by life yet. I envy you.

[mindstormsabrewin]

I don't have a creative block. As a musician I am completely destroyed when I try to use modern equipment. NOTHING works the way it's supposed to. It's all overpriced and over complicated. It's glitchy. Temperamental. I CAN"T make my music! I have it in my head. But I'm NOT a computer nerd. To be creative today you need to have an engineering degree. I'm not smart enough or rich enough. I have given up my music because no matter how hard or long I try, Nothing will work. I wish I felt like you.

[bluedoryification]

Fantastic advice. Really good, very inspiring. I think your absolutely right I think being creative is an expression of the self and if losing touch with the self, that is what interests you and how you feel about the world. Its impossible to make something from nothing. :)