Do you sometimes find yourself playing the role of the critic when you know you’re truly a creator? Expressing creativity can feel like a battle with oneself. The purpose of this post is to highlight the 5 ways creatives block their flow.
“If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles… if you do not know your enemies nor yourself,
you will be imperiled in every single battle.”
– Sun Tzu
In this post, I will illuminate 5 ways creatives block their flow. This will help my fellow creatives recognize blockages and adapt their behavior to free their inner artist.
5 Ways Creatives Block Their Flow
1. Procrastination
Everyone has been guilty of this at one time or another. The easiest time to stop it is right when it starts.
Procrastinating starts with a voice suggesting us to do something. Then another voice voices an opposing opinion and offers another suggestion.
The inner creator will speak first, but the volume of the blocked creator’s voice can triumph against our best interest. Before the second voice gains strength, go with the gut instinct.
2. Self-Editing
Humans perform best in the flow state. Many times logic and the voice inside our head make us lose our rhythm. Think about all the times your gut instinct told you the right answer, but you mulled it over then put the wrong answer.
I have found that having faith in my gut instinct frees my energy to perform better.
3. Crazy-makers
These are people along our journey who are also blocked creators. Most of the time, these people take more than they give. Many can be likeable people, but they come with a cost… your creativity.
Make time for yourself.
4. Substances
Escape. That’s what we seek. Whether the substance you abuse is fast food, booze, or heroin – we divert our attention with obtainable escapes. These cheap escapes distract from the greatest escape, the Great Adventure.
Take a break.
5. New Ideas
Every idea seems like a million dollars. However, execution is where the value lies. Many creators jump from project to project chasing a million dollars. Most lose themselves because they never learned the value of follow through.
Build a project and ship.