3 Reasons Why You’re Not Creating and What To Do About It
Have you been putting off your art making lately? Do you find yourself feeling guilty for not following through with creating regularly? You’re not alone! So many creatives struggle to create on a regular basis. It feels like our day jobs, family, friends, and daily responsibilities are constantly at odds with our need to create.
Below I share three common reasons why you might not be creating regularly and what you can do about it.
Reason #1 - You say you don't have time.
As mentioned above, most creatives (and non-creatives alike) are juggling multiple responsibilities at any given time.
The reality is that time and energy are limited. We can’t do it all. If creating is a crucial part of our life's purpose, then, creating must take priority in our lives.
Reason #2 - You don't have a plan.
A common misconception amongst creatives (and non-creatives alike) is assuming that creation happens by magic. We believe we must wait to feel inspired. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that creative work is called work for a reason. Creative work requires high levels of devotion, intention, and structure.
Before sitting down to create, spend some time getting clear on what you’d like to achieve during your creative practice. Ask yourself the following questions, what would I like to create? How would I like to achieve this? And, how will I know when I’m successful? Doing the prep work before attempting to create will help to maximize your creative time.
Inspiration exists but it has to find you working. —Pablo Picasso
Reason #3 - You're stuck but you're not sure why.
Another common reason we stop creating is because we lack clarity on what’s truly holding us back. We spend a lot of time trying to solve the wrong problem and become frustrated at our perceived lack of progress. This could happen for a number of reasons. For example— being too close to the problem, unhealed emotional wounds, unconscious limiting beliefs, and/or destructive thoughts.
The key here is to get clear on the actual problem and taking action to solve it quickly. You can do this by asking for help from a trusted friend, a colleague, a fellow artist, a therapist, or a creativity coach. These people can act as a sounding board to help you to gain perspective, develop a plan of action, or hold you accountable to your creative goals.
In conclusion, as creatives we must protect our creative time, plan for success, and seek support when we get stuck. Remember, your creative work is meaningful and sacred, and therefore it's worth doing!
Renata is a creativity coach guiding women of color creatives to breakthrough creative block with therapeutic art making. She’s currently offering a free copy of her therapeutic art making workbook when you sign up for her email list. Sign up here to get your free copy.
