WHAT’S STOPPING YOUR CREATIVITY?

Having co-taught a week-long program on The Art of Collaboration, I’m always thinking about creativity and how that does or doesn’t come together when working with others. Sometimes when working with others, you might feel your own contribution doesn’t measure up and that can STOP your creativity cold.

Everyone has that creative spark – you just might light your spark in a different way than someone else. But the spark is there waiting to be called to life.

Your creativity might have been free-est when you were a child before you received any feedback about staying within the lines or what colors a tree ‘should’ be. As a child you were naturally in create-mode, filled with an active imagination offering up all sorts of ideas for you to implement.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

Maybe nothing happened and you are actively expressing your creativity in ways that brings you joy right this minute. But if you’re not then here might be some culprits:

1) Comparison – the dreaded bug-a-boo of the creative soul. In truth creative expression is incomparable by definition so if you are holding back for fear of being compared then it is time for you to remember that creative child within and give him some permission to explore again.

2) Perfectionism – the second most dreaded bug-a-boo of the creative soul. If you are not trying because you don’t want to do anything you are not ‘perfect’ at then you’ll be sitting with all that creative expression locked up inside with nowhere to go. So draw some trees and paint them purple and see if you can get that critical voice inside to keep her ideas to herself!

3) Procrastination – you’ve been meaning to take that writing class, that painting workshop, that singing lesson but life is so busy. Procrastination is almost always a fear issue so take a good look at what you are afraid of and take just one teeny, tiny step in a creative direction that you’ve long wanted to do. Teeny, tiny. That’s what sends procrastination on its way and keep overwhelm at bay. (OMG I just made a poem!!! See how easy it is!)

Whether you are working alone or in collaboration with other creative people, express your unique voice. After all, only you can do that!

With love,
​
Cathleen