5 reasons why you may be experiencing a creative slump, and how you can overcome it
A friend once asked me how it feels to be in a creative slump. Although I tried to put my thoughts into words, I still struggled to articulate my feelings. A creative slump is a miserable place to be. Not only because you’re not doing what you’ve always loved to do, or perhaps what God has called you to, but because you’re imprisoned by thoughts that question your creative ability and leave you disabled in the process.
It’s a different ballgame if the Lord has asked you to wait, but when you know you should be doing something and you’re not, it hits differently. I realized that my creativity works best when I’m focused, but there was so much going on at the time and life seemed to be moving so fast that I couldn’t catch myself. Soon, procrastination slipped in until I wasn’t sure I could write anything. This gave birth to imposter syndrome and so much doubt that I was hesitant to write anything.
I started questioning if anyone was looking forward to what I had to say or if I was just deluding myself.
And then I concluded there were other better writers or Christian content creators out there and the world didn’t need another writer like me. Soon, every day for me seemed like I was just going through the motions and I would rather just do something else than write or share my creative pieces with the world. It was then I realized I was dying slowly inside. I no longer had the inspiration to write or do anything creative because I’d forgotten my reason.
And this leads me to the first things to do to get out of a creative slump
Remember Your Reason
I forgot my reason for writing. I forgot how writing used to be my safe space and how I’d used it to heal myself over the years. So my creative slump was inevitable. I don’t know why you do what you love doing, and I don’t know what made you explore your creative side, but if there’s one thing you must remember in times like this, it’s your reason.
I’ve been writing since I was 9 years old. And although God took me through some seasons of waiting and shedding my excesses, it still didn’t stop the passion burning in my veins whenever I write. Although my reason for writing has been refined as I grow spiritually, I still feel excited whenever I type words on a blank page, regardless of who reads them.
Writing is a gift. Writing is an expressive outlet, especially for someone like me who writes better than I talk (I would rather listen). It’s a way to articulate my words. Writing is where I feel comfortable. It’s a place I can be myself. It’s the reason why I blogged anonymously about 10-11 years ago because it wasn’t about being seen. It wasn’t about my literary expertise, awards, or anything of the sort. It was just a way to find my voice in a noisy world, especially because as an introvert, I lived in my head a lot.
Whenever you’re crippled by doubt or question if you should be doing what you’re currently doing, remember your reason. In the past, it used to be because I just wanted to. But now my reason is God.
First, find your reason.
It’s okay if others want to join the party later.
Lack of Inspiration
There’s an ongoing debate about the existence of writer’s block but I know I’ve had days where I couldn’t write anything no matter how hard I tried. I started to doubt I had lost my writing magic because I couldn’t even get a single page filled. I started to dread writing because it felt like a huge burden. In situations like this, you’ll have to surround yourself with other creatives. Sometimes you may have to change your environment especially if you’re surrounded by those who don’t ‘get your art.’
Find your tribe. This could be done by booking sessions with Creatives you know and are willing to spare you their time, or better said, read from them. Check out their podcasts, videos, or their social media pages/blog/website. Pick their brain and have your notebook and pen ready. More importantly, spend time praying and reading the bible. Engage the Holy Spirit in meditation while your playlist is humming in the background. Allow yourself to be still without thinking too much. You’d be surprised by how much you’ll receive.
You’re probably overthinking it
I can be very analytical in my thoughts and overthinking things tend to kill creativity. The moment you give your creativity too much thought, you lose out on the wonder of birthing something that was crafted for the audience of one.
Magical doesn’t equate to logical. And that’s what being creative is all about.
I could write over a hundred thousand words in the past because I wasn’t thinking too much about editing and structure and all the things you get taught in creative school. I just wrote what was in my heart at the time. I wasn’t thinking of displaying my writing prowess or what would get accepted by the public. I had this wild imagination and the moment I started typing, everything would just flow and take shape. But the moment I started overthinking how people would perceive my words and how great I wanted my words to be on screen, fear crept in. I began to see myself falling short of the standards I’d placed for myself.
Standards God did not give me.
Soon I started to debate if some things were worth sharing. Not because God didn’t want me to share it, but because I was overthinking everything. I also wanted it to be ‘perfect’
But the truth is our creativity is never perfect. Even our favorite movies have loopholes. It’s the reason why I love watching behind-the-scenes videos and bloopers. It reveals how human we are. So stop overthinking and start doing.
Embrace the process
Before anything becomes good, it goes through a process. Lots of processes. Before Thomas Edison created electricity, he’d failed many times. This means he had to keep going over and over again. But it’s amazing because here’s what he had to say about his failures:
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work
The only way you can be creative is when you realize it’s a process and it’s okay to start however you start. If salvation is a process, then what makes you think your creativity given to you by God isn’t also a process? Just be willing to start, however rough or ugly it looks, and be willing to grow from there. The problem starts when you think you’ve got to be a genius from the get-go. There’s no overnight success. If you read my old stories and compare them to my current stories, you’d see a huge difference. The difference was so clear I had to take down some of those old stories from the internet. Some were so cringe-worthy I couldn’t believe I put them out there without any form of editing.
You don’t have to be like me though.
You can grow from your failures behind the scenes and don’t stop getting better. Don’t stop growing. Don’t shy away from criticism either. If all my editor did was gush over my work, then I wouldn’t be better. Think of your creativity as raw material, more like raw gold before it shines. The more you put it under fire, the purer it gets. So the more you grow spiritually and physically, the wiser you become and this flows into your creativity.
Because your creativity is part of you, it flows from you. This is what makes it personal when people criticize our work. We feel they’re attacking us, but don’t be afraid to die to that feeling and try again.
Procrastination
I did not know I was a procrastinator until recently, and I realized how this contributed greatly to my creative slump. I kept waiting for the right time to write, illustrate, or express my creative self. And so I would just hop on the next escape route I could find.
Sometimes I would have legitimate excuses to postpone the work and other times I was just distracted. I would be so distracted in the long run that I would forget I could have spent those hours being more productive if I wrote or made edits to my work.
I’d end up watching one video and keep scrolling until an hour would pass. In situations like this, you must employ discipline and proper time management. If your creativity is very important to you, then you will set up systems and structures that will enable you to pour yourself into your work.
I learned over time that there will never be a perfect time for all the things you would like to do in this life. The time you have is the time you create. You’ll be surprised by how much time you have when you cut off your distractions and start prioritizing what matters to you.
Just so you know, You don’t need permission to be creative (except from God of course). The world’s your oyster and there’s so much God has given you to benefit others out there. Unbelievers don’t think too much before posting filth on the internet, yet we overthink things when we’re meant to be out there doing the good work our Father has assigned us to do. If God has placed an idea in your heart, spend time praying about it, brood over it, and go as God leads you.
If He says wait, then you wait. And if he’s telling you it’s time, then you cannot afford to waste time.
Photo by Cristina Gottardi