Do you ever just feel creatively stuck in a loop that feels never ending? As though you are lacking inspiration, or perhaps your perfectionism gets in your way and you tell yourself you’ll finally get around to starting tomorrow? You are not alone, that’s for sure.
It’s easy to get swept up in the idea phase of creating, and taking it off the ground into execution can feel like pulling teeth. It’s hard when everyone else makes it look so effortless, or it seems like they have it all figured out. It’s easy to look at our peers and compare ourselves, which is the thief of joy but those of us with imposter syndrome continue to watch the world pass us by as if our eyes are the windows and the world is the big screen. It’s safer that way anyway, but is it really the best way to live?
I understand the fears of changing, and seeking creature comforts to soften the blow of a challenge to our anxiety. This often happens in a cycle, and then you’ll be anxious about being anxious and then think of more ideas that sound so great, then they never get started and then eventually you’ll see that exact idea done by someone online and you’ll think to yourself that you should have acted all the way back then. This cycle of procrastination, perfectionism mixed with some self-sabotage is common for creatives and they are a recipe for disaster. If only I had the tools to turn my ways upside down, I’m sure many of you reading this have said to yourselves before.
Or promising you’ll do better next time, but that next time doesn’t seem to come.
What is going on? Why are we so exhausted, frustrated and uninspired and stuck in this merry go round, rollercoaster of a life that actually is no longer creative, but anxiety inducing, uncomfortable and lackluster?
Maybe we give up on our ideas because we tell ourselves that someone else has already done it better, or maybe we’ll start an outline or write it down and never do anything past that. This mindset of keeping it in your brain is what stops you from proceeding. Maybe it has to do with your pre-conditioning from the public school system or a 9-5 job, that you’ll only do what you’re asked and don’t bother trying to go above and beyond because you won’t reap further rewards anyway. When you are used to holding onto the status quo, it puts you in a new kind of hellish position that creates comfort, which, if is maintained long enough, becomes stagnation. This is why so many creatives need to make the world their playground and not rely on that good old office job to fulfill your lifelong dreams of making something of yourself.
The office is just your fishbowl, where you must smile and nod along, do your work and go home. It’s not where you’ll find your big break, you’ll only be paying your big monthly bills and wishing for a better, Instagrammable life if you keep this up.
How can we break up with this way of living? How can we find fulfillment and at last fall in love with the process, the craft and even ourselves? Many creatives or artists have brilliant minds, but when they lack the inspiration they often fall into anxieties or worries, as our brains are so good at creating things, but when there’s nothing tangible to make, it’s so easy for our minds to wander and make up stories, focus on past issues or obsess over external going-ons to entertain ourselves. Our anxious minds do best with creative challenges to overcome. Naturally, we creatives are great problem solvers, expressive people who have great insights and love the human experience, but are lacking that muse and specific focal point, and alas this cycle is born and continues to thrive.
Recognize yourself in this cycle? Part 2 will help you pinpoint the specific roadblocks preventing your creative execution. Don’t miss it!