Re: I'm blocked

Hi Molly,
I can relate so well to what you're feeling. I worked as as commercial artist/illustrator for many years in advertising. It seems like when something was someone else's idea which I had to execute, I could always do a good job, or of course I wouldn't have continued to get paid. However, whenever something was completely left up to me, the fear that I may not 'pass muster' always produced blockage, and this of course is the enemy of creativity. Sometimes I would even forget ideas which had come to me earlier and I could think of nothing. On the other hand, late at night, just before falling asleep and right when the brain waves are shifting, I could come up with a kaleidoscope of images for all sorts of projects, and sometimes I would have to jump out of bed and jot down or sketch those ideas or they would be lost forever.

The pressure to prove oneself can bring on paralysis and it's a trap of the old ego. Surely you can overcome this if you give yourself some time and shake off the importance of your new challenge. Disarm it of it's importance for the time being and get involved with something totally unrelated and which inspires you emotionally, spiritually, whatever. When you manage to release yourself completely from it for a little while, then come back and just begin to make something even if you have no picture in your mind of anything at all. Soon after you start to put things together aimlessly, your creativity will kick in again, and you will be well on your way to once again create extensions of who you are. Your work is beautiful Molly, and your best work is yet to come. Tweet