Some Days Creating is Beyond Difficult
A glimpse behind the scenes into a morning of false starts, empty words, and no ideas deemed worth sharing.
“Everything that's created comes out of silence. Your thoughts emerge from the nothingness of silence. Your words come out of this void. Your very essence emerged from emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.”
—Wayne Dyer
We have all seen the picture. The struggling writer at the keyboard — awaiting inspiration, seeking their muse. Fingers at the ready, but a disconnect within. Or the one with a blank sheet of paper surrounded by wads of discarded false starts.
Drop me into that picture today and you have a glimpse behind the scenes.
From DepositPhotos.com
I know. Using such an opening might seem like an attempt to torture even the most dedicated reader. After all, if the picture painted is accurate, then I am admitting to having nothing to say, so why share it?
Because I am not convinced that is the meaning of a day like this. In fact, I believe if you never have days like this you will never appreciate the experience of the days when everything effortlessly flows from within.
Not just a writer’s problem…
By the way, this discussion is not just for those who write. It is for anyone who creates anything — chefs, artists, actors, consultants, speakers, teachers, salespeople, leaders, anyone who does anything requiring them to craft something from an idea or vision.
All of us have days when it just doesn’t flow as you wish it would.
Days when, as I have this morning, we start to release our vision for whatever it is we are creating, then hit the wall.
You know the wall I mean. The one where you realize ‘this is not your best work’ or ‘this is just not ready to be shared’ or ‘even I am not interested in knowing more about this.’
What usually works for us is not working. No matter how many times we press reset, we are going nowhere.
It is beyond frustrating.
It should be exhilarating…
In moments like this, I am drawn to analysis and questioning. Seeking to understand what is going on within.
Wondering why today is a start, make progress, stop, and start again kind of a day. Trusting the process to reveal answers and forging ahead knowing there is some nugget waiting to emerge, even if it needs a day or two before it can break the surface.
So I shift into full-on teaching mode and refocus my thoughts to my favorite question in times of struggle: What can I share about what I am experiencing right now to help someone else?
Today my immediate response was to share exactly what is happening, knowing someone else needs this message today. Believing they will see it and it will make their day better, or perhaps their tomorrow.
I choose to see this moment as being filled with exhilaration. Grateful for the struggle. Delighted to have placed 7 new partially drafted posts in my ‘write about this’ folder this morning. Confident this message will serve someone and enable them to keep creating whatever it is they are here to create.
Now that I have captured and shared something, I am again fulfilled. The struggle calmed and the path prepared, I am ready for the day ahead.
Today’s Action Advice
Take a moment to think about how you feel and what you do when you hit the wall discussed here. We all have those days and what matters is how we respond to them. Note the word respond, not react. Reacting is turning control over to the situation and allowing it to dictate our path. Responding is about acknowledging the moment and choosing your action. How do you respond when you hit the wall?
P.S. I’d love to know how you respond when you hit the wall. Share your story with me here.