By Peggy M. Riemer, author of The Rebel Creator’s Playbook
One of my favorite quotes is from Henri Matisse, “Creativity takes courage.” When we feel inspired by a new creative direction or project, we don’t always consider the most difficult aspects of building a creative life. It can be very confusing when we find ourselves struggling even while doing something we care about.
Creative work is hard. The ability to begin a creative project, to continue the work even when it feels out of focus and developing the small practices that encourage consistency are a challenge. Creating is both a practical calling and a spiritual journey.
To engage in creative work is to both make something tangible and to delve into our inner life, creating from a place within us that makes the work possible. I suppose it is possible to merely make something and send it into the world, but that would be to miss the essential aspect of the artistic and creative life; it is intended to exist on a deeper level.
Knowing Yourself
To engage in creative work is an invitation to really know yourself. The inner work is to be sure your values are aligned with your work. Creative work is often a process of overcoming blocks that we all experience, such as doubt and perfectionism. Rather than seeing the blocks as impediments, we can reframe them as an invitation to look deeper into the message they are asking us to explore.
There usually is an inner voice behind the block, a critic or a feeling of impost syndrome. We can learn to turn that voice from a critic to a guide.
We should all aspire to speak to ourselves as we would to our closest friend. What kind of comment would you share to encourage someone else to reframe a harsh message. Perhaps it is time to speak to yourself with that same voice.
Practical Considerations
Overcoming creative blocks can also require an honest evaluation of your habits and systems for working. Breaking down the components of your process into micro-practices helps to identify if there are any adaptations you could take to make your work life more productive.
Looking at your creative space and rearranging, eliminating or adding elements that help you to focus and invite you to want invite in your work space are another small element that can help you focus and build a welcoming work environment.
Building Your Tribe
Nothing makes life more difficult than trying to create something alone. Even if your creative practice is solitary, other people can provide support and connection that help sustain your creative life.
Too often creative work engenders feelings of jealousy and dismissive attitudes from some people and that is unfortunate. More importantly, there are also communities of like-minded creators who would welcome the opportunity to share your journey as they share theirs with you.
One of the bravest steps you can take as a creator is to share your ideas and experiences. Even if it feels uncomfortable as practice in the beginning, building a tribe connected to your work is both a gift to others and a stabilizing and enriching gift to yourself.
Permission Seeking
Another creative block often emerges from the need to seek permission. This is really a tension between seeking approval and trusting yourself. We are all quite vulnerable in this respect. The more we care about things, the more we want others to approve as well.
This brings us back to knowing ourselves and having a clear understanding of our values and why they matter to us. If you are operating within your value system and know that your work also is aligned with what you hold, then the only permission you need comes from yourself and not from anyone else, family, friends, teachers, colleagues, critics, social media connections, or anyone else.
Your Creative Block Has Its Own Story
Whatever holds you back, whether a practical element or an soul level aspect of your work, is unique to you. A block also can reflect your specific life circumstances. Block, although they can be similarly experienced by more than one person, are not a generic problem. A creative block is a personal signal; it mirrors what is happening in your inner world.
Listen to what this creative block is asking. Here are three questions to help find the answer:
- What is the root of the block (grief, exhaustion, fear)?
- Let the block speak to you. Perhaps journal or even reflect on these questions:
- What is the block protecting me from?
- What do I need right now?
- Choose one micro-action, a tiny step that matches the answer. It could be rest, or brainstorming for 5 minutes before you begin your actual work.
In The Rebel Creator’s Playbook, I explore 10 principles for building a creative life that I’ve learned on the front lines of making theatre and films. Each principle has both a practical side and a more interior, reflective side. Most creative blocks also have this dual nature: there is a concrete, day-to-day problem and a deeper, often spiritual, layer. Learning to notice and work through both levels is an important part of moving through creative obstacles rather than staying stuck in them.