Breaking Creative Blocks: Get Inspired with Mindfulness

One of the best and most healing parts of being creative is that beautiful flow of creative ideas: that amazing feeling of inspiration to begin something new and the energy that keeps us going on a creative project. Conversely, one of the hardest parts of being creative is when we are blocked from this flow.  We may feel angry, frustrated, depressed, anxious or flat.  Our creative efforts are stemmed or stopped completely which creates a feedback loop worsening the condition.  

Good news, creatives- I can help!

There are many ways to chip away at your creative block, and likely several methods will be needed and multiple factors are contributing to feeling stuck.  In ongoing posts I will address some of the other processes that may help.  Today’s focus: getting inspired through mindfulness.

A lack of inspiration may be one of the reasons contributing to your creative block.  Fresh inspiration can sometimes be the spark needed to reignite your creative process.  However, if you are stuck in feelings of depression, anxiety or inadequacy, this spark may be harder to access.  Here is an approach that works: Mindfulness. Mindfulness is another well researched technique in psychology shown over and over again by research and clinical applications alike to be effective in treating a variety of symptoms.  For you, dear creative, we will use it as a tool to get inspired.  Let’s explore some mindfulness basics:

Mindfulness embraces the present moment.  Your goal is to take yourself out of your headspace and instead be present with the sensations of your current experience.  Some people have success accessing this with a process called grounding.  Focus on your five senses.  What do you hear, see, smell, feel or taste?  Still having trouble?  Create stronger sensory experiences which may be more effective in “grabbing” you into the present- hold an ice cube, wash some dishes, take a walk.  Others access mindfulness through meditation.  Do a body scan and gently focus on each part of your body without moving it.  Focus on the simple task of breathing.  Mindfulness practices take you into fully experiencing the present moment.  Absorb what is going on immediately around you.  When you are in a state of mindfulness you are accessing your creative brain where your inspiration also lives. 

This week there was a beautiful natural phenomenon outside.  Did you see the solar eclipse?  Did you experience it?  Did you go outside and look at shadows, search for temperature changes on your skin, listen to the changes in animal sounds or smells in the air?  If you did you may have felt refreshed, energized, and even inspired.  As a creative person, you can experience inspiration anywhere when you are mindful.

Talk during your therapy session about breaking your creative block with mindfulness, and learn more about how mindfulness practices can help you find your inspiration.
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