This will be brief and to the point.
Some days the river flows, others it seems that the channels are clogged and inspiration is at best a trickle.
What do we do in those kinds of situations?
I offer here a handful of tactics that work for me.
1. Do it anyways.
Sit down and write. Pick up the brush and paint. Grab your instrument and play. Sometimes the sheer physical action can motivate the heart to give up its treasures.
2. Do something different.
Most creatives have several irons in the fire, some more demanding than others. I sometimes very round to a less taxing task in the project, or an alternative project, and muddle my way through those more mundane elements, knowing that the reservoir of inspiration will soon fill and flow again.
3. Don’t do it at all.
Down tools, give yourself permission, and simply be. Go for a walk, read a book, have a bath, watch a movie, have a sleep. Whatever helps you unplug. Sometimes it’s the time away from a project that injects new life into it when you come back.
4. Clear the decks.
This may or may not be relevant to you, but for me it’s a first port of call when my pipes are clogged and I feel dry or overwhelmed. Tidying and organising your creative space can be both therapeutic, and place you back in the driving seat and ready to roll next time you step into project mode.
5. Pray.
Should be first but often last, prayer makes all the difference. The Holy Spirit knows precisely what’s required to open the flow, and prayer, especially praying strongly in tongues blows the creativity-killing cobwebs and opens your spirit to receive from God fresh direction and inspiration.
If, like me, you have slowed the wheels for a short time, and feel reluctant to climb back in the seat and put your foot to the floor for the next season of creative output, you may experience some resistance to opening your flow and finding your stride.
