“May what I create burst forth like snow melting into a mighty waterfall, or vibrantly hued red magnolia tree seeds sprouting forth, seeking springtime sun rays. No forcing and no holding back.” –Janice Brooks
It may not be difficult to experience yourself as a struggling creative artist, to dwell in the dry spells, or suffer through a stent of creative malaise.
But, like springtime’s colorfully blooming desert wildflowers or icy snow transforming into flood waters, when your creative artistry sprouts forth, you’ll find yourself swirling in abundant artistic energy. Hearing musical compositions and lyrics are unstoppable in my mind. Colorful images flow onto a blank canvas at rapid speed. Poetic ruminations flow through the fingers faster than the winds of March. The imagination goes gloriously wild! And, sometimes, you may also find yourself panicked, immobilized by the sheer intensity of it all.
How best to navigate creative movement when you’re caught in a creative flood or creative windstorm?
Call out for help: In today’s world, most artists find they do not have enough time to create and also manage one’s online presence. Perhaps, you might consider hiring a spunky high school student or a savvy grandma to set up and manage your online social media platforms and presence.
Find a new creative refuge: Take a creative “spring break,” a temporary hiatus from peripheral demands and social commitments. And most of all, be “creatively” brave! Take a picture of your desk or studio to email to friends and colleagues with a note: “Having the time of my life; will get back to you when I finish my project.”
Put on a “creative” lifejacket and float on the waves of fresh spring water: Make this your jump in (or off, if you’re scared) point. It will take all your courage and fortitude to stay off the safe, marginally unproductive edge. Many creative artists fall head first into the false and creatively unhealthy self-labeling of being a “procrastinator.” “Procrastinate” from the Latin root work meaning pro (forward) plus crastinus (of tomorrow), signifies literally “putting forward until tomorrow.” Originally, the term was descriptive, not judgmental—a neutral word meaning postponement. And even though procrastination now carries a pejorative connotation, it does not describe a motive. If you find yourself floating in creative flood waters, “putting forward” toward your destination, becomes part of the meandering creative process to get there.
Remember: beautiful flowers sometimes burst forth through dry, cracked terrains.