What are your obstacles to creative exploration?

Creativity is a central component guiding my life’s journey. If I am not being creative, I feel like something important is missing. To be clear, creativity is not just doing some artwork. It is making a meal for my kids, having a rich conversation, or making an unexpected decision that uplifts someone. For me, it has also involved doing sculptures with resin, stained glass mosaics, slam poetry, writing both fiction and non-fiction books, and. shaking my booty while listening to music.

The flow state seems readily accessible through many activities. So what prevents from delighting in these flow state activities? What keeps us from diving into our creative exploration.

First, de-prioritization. We put our creative pursuits last. After the dishes (which, you can say is reasonable). After the parties. After exercise, the oil change, calling that person who wants to complain to you. After anything work related. After, after, after. We stay so busy with anything but our artistic impulses. We don’t value these endeavors enough to put them above anything else.

Second, self-doubt. You start and then stop yourself very quickly because some part of you growls, ‘that sucks.’ Your self-doubt sometimes comes in the guise of perfectionism, pretending it’s there to make it better. Such tendencies take the joy out of creating, prune fun original ideas that you’ve had, and are paralyzing. We let self-doubt suppress our innovative urges.

Third, depletion. Is your life currently configured so that you don’t have a reserve of energy to paint your souls colors anywhere? Does your physical or mental health need support? Does your family or work responsibilities demand so much you can’t afford 10 minutes for journaling? Do you need counsel on looking at your life’s logistics to figure out how to incorporate some creative process? Or do you value creativity enough to even consider making any life change in that regard? Or do you doubt that your voice even matters in such an endeavor?

Are you interesting in leaping over your obstacles and tapping into your creative power?