Expert: Teri Griffin Williams, Soul-cial Connector
Link: TeriGriffinWilliams.com
Every now and then even the most creative of us fall into
what can seem like a deep dark void where not even the slightest spark ignites
into that bright light of artistic explosion. What can you do when you feel
yourself hurling into the space of “nothingness?”
When I find myself slipping into a creative funk I stop,
breathe, and gently give myself permission to simply be. At times when I am forced to move on, because
of deadlines and commitments I take a look at this list, choosing at least one
or two to practice. (OK sometimes all of them) Generally speaking, after
running through this list, an idea has sparked and the flame begins to burst.
1.
Meditate
– Nothing dumps the baggage from the mind easier then meditation. Practicing a creativity meditation can help
reduce stress, drama and fear, quieting the mind, opening it up for more
positive thoughts to easily and effortlessly flow.
2.
Morning Pages – several years ago I began
reading “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron.
Cameron suggests that you begin each day with writing three pages about
anything. I have found that setting the
timer for a minimum of 10 minutes helped me to channel my focus. In the beginning, most days were filled with
complete randomness, which overflowed into the rest of my days writings.
3.
Catch the idea when it hits – How many times
have you thought of a great idea just when you were walking into a
meeting? Carry a notebook or use voice
record on your phone to capture the idea or spark as soon as it hits.
4.
Walk the dog – or pet the cat, or sit in the
park. Nature offers one of the easiest
and cheapest ways to reconnect with flow.
The natural world is the ultimate source for activity and flow, even if
you simply follow the path of an ant.
5.
Draw a creativity map – with a thought in the
center of a piece of paper, create a web of associated thoughts that extend
from the center out. Notice the pattern
that arises and the inspirations connected to that first thought or word. Use the threads of the pattern as your spark.
6.
Feed your inspiration – Pay attention to what
inspires you and be present with it often.
Allow yourself time to tap into your inspirational source often to stay
energized and uplifted.
7.
Move your energy – Get up and dance, bend,
stretch, move. Moving your body moves
energy, like hitting the refresh button on the computer screen.
8.
Connect with others – visit a coffee shop with a
friend, go to a party, host a dinner club, engage and bond with likeminded
people for conversation, collaboration and social connecting.
9.
Play – that’s right play, have fun, and do
something off the wall and unexpected.
Need help with that? Find a child
to mentor or become a big brother/big sister to and allow yourself to simply
play.
The next time you find yourself
lacking the creative spark, take a deep breath and lean into the moment. The pressures off, you have my permission to
explore new ways to tap in.
Here is the link to my book page:
and here is a link to more free resources on my page:
No comments:
Post a Comment