Creativity

Blocked? Are you experiencing any of the following?

• discouragement and discontent
• self doubt or self consciousness
• perfectionism and self criticism
• inability to complete projects
• low productivity and procrastination
• isolation
• inertia
• uninspired

Through therapy, the artist can learn to experience less perfectionism and more self acceptance, less frustration and more satisfaction, more connection to spirituality and unconscious processes, increased focus and energy, a reorientation to an inner-motivated creative process, and an increased connection to other people and community.

Steve Jobs emphasized that

creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because (they think that) they didn’t really do it, they just saw something or heard something. (A creative idea) seemed obvious to them after awhile . That’s because they were able to connect experiences they (had had) and synthesize new things.

By removing internal barriers to creativity, an artist is able to utilize his or her training and skill development to channel experiences into new creations. Without these barriers, the creative person bypasses the voice of the inner critic or the lure of distracting activities to allow the flow of the next artistic project. A purity of expression results. An outpouring of energy without encumbrance occurs.   See my blog post, My Mind is Jammed: The Creative Ebb and Flow

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties     Erich Fromm

It is important for creative people to become comfortable with uncertainty in the creative process. Stepping into the unknown, not knowing where the creative urge will take one can trigger fear and anxiety. Knowing how to contain these feelings increases confidence in the process and in oneself.

Producing a creative object or outcome requires facing unknown parts of the self that are not necessarily faced in every day life. Living outside the box is challenging, requiring the access of different parts of  oneself.  Risk-taking that may not be required in other areas of life may be required in creating.

The creative process can be enhanced through exploring novel approaches to blocks that come up, and to problems with motivation or feeling stuck. A few possibilities include to:

• Address or describe the problem at hand in a different way than was previously considered
• Move your body
• Expand rather than contract the focus of your concentration
• Be optimistic about possible success
• Daydream
• Let yourself off the hook of shoulds, musts and oughts that create pressure
• Visualize success

 

Anxiety is part of creativity, the need to get something out, the need to be rid of something or to get in touch with something within” David Duchovny

Soothing the anxious parts of the self allows the creative part of the self full expression and freedom. This freedom nurtures and releases the creative process. Grounding in one’s strengths and natural expression, the artist can expand the creative experience and continue developing aligned avenues of expression that are both congruent with the artist as creator and self. Producing art from this flow state is frequently more satisfying, productive and meaningful.

In this state we are more concentrated on the experience rather than the sense of self or time. We are highly focused on the experience, balanced between the internal levels of stress hormones that motivate us and the level of performance.  We have our attention  where we desire it to be despite distractions. We’re in a state of open awareness, and in a quiet state of internal joy,

 

With clarity, compassion, and creativity, I work with you to align with your true self and your higher purpose. Creativity coaching is available to support you in being the best artist you can be.

Flowing with the waves of the creative impulse can be challenging to the most proficient artist.  Following the energy that emanates from the creative spirit is crucial to allowing the inner fire of creativity to be kindled and to grow again.  As John Updike said  ” There is no doubt that I have lots of words inside me, but at moments, like rush-hour traffic at the mouth of a tunnel, they jam.”   Free your spirit and creative impulses.

Request an appointment for help with creative blocks HERE

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the object it loves” – Carl Jung