Do you know this feeling? You sit down and want to create, write but nothing comes up; or something comes up but you don’t like it; and it goes on for days, weeks even. It can be so frustrating to feel blocked.
Sometimes morning pages or free writing can help me to get back into the flow.
And sometimes it might be good to look at our media consumption. Do you read many blogs on a daily basis? Books, magazines, newspapers, television? If we constantly consume other people’s words and art it can keep us from getting creative ourselves.
That’s definitely the case for me these days. I love the abundance of information and inspiration on the internet but if I read other blogs before I write my own post I feel like everything has been said already – and a hundred times better than I could say it. So why bother anyway?!
Yes, there will always be people who say and do things better than I could do it; or you could do it. Before I try to explain why you should still go ahead and create read this post because Havi DID say it a lot better than I could do it (by the way, all the other posts in her Blogging Therapy are great too!)
I mentioned Julia Cameron and her book The Artist’s Way
We don’t have a television so that’s not a problem but I find it extremely difficult to stay away from blogs and books for a whole week. If I only try it for three days it’s already immensely effective. Instead of consuming I spend more of my time producing things myself.
(this “monster” is made by Lenja with our new batch of homemade play dough)
Has anyone of you experiences with reading or media deprivation?
Haha…while I was writing this a cheeky little bird knocked with its beak at my window. I looked up and she flew over to the empty bird feeder as if she was saying: “More food please!”
So I better go and fill up the feeder. There are still a few more cold days to come…sigh…
I definitely understand what you are saying. I often think, “why write about this? I don’t have anything new to say about it.” Sometimes that means that it isn’t the right topic for me, and sometimes it means looking at it a different way. But I do think that fasting from the words of others can be a good and healthy thing sometimes to make us hungry again and to get our own creative juices flowing. I often think that the internet (though wonderful) has created an over-saturation of words so that there is too much supply, not enough demand. I fasted from Facebook last summer and liked being away from it so much I have never gone back. Although there is danger in reading too many blogs also and getting an unrealistic vision of the lives of others, I feel that there is a better chance of building community here. Thanks as always for the thoughtful post.
Definitly<! I so agree. We need space and silence to hear the voice of our creativity and to create. but sometimes it is hard to stay away from media…
i like to feed the well — and make a habit of feeding it regularly. reading new things (even just browsing books, not reading the whole thing), talking to people online, exercising in nature daily … all of these seem to keep the ideas flowing.
You are reading my thoughts, Halina! I really need to stay away from the internet or I will never get any “real work” done. I force myself to do my creative or spiritual work first and then I’m allowed to check my e-mail or play on Facebook. Big hugs, Karina
I also did a FB fast about a year ago … and you’re so right about being overfed on blogs and other people’s creativity. It’s so easy to get overwhumped and feel like you’ve got nothing new to say … but then, sweetheart, none of us do because there’s really nothing new to say.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shine your light and speak your truth. Because there’s someone waiting just for you to say what they need to hear, in a way they can hear it.
Let silence reign … and rain … but then fill it with your wisdom.
I have started to take every weekend ‘off’ from the internet – it restores my sanity and gives my brain time to breathe and think my own thoughts instead of constantly reacting. I tried the reading deprivation from the Artist’s Way – it took me months to build up to it and I chose a busy week when I thought I would miss reading less. What I found was that nothing else relaxes me as well as a good book, and although I did feel clearer, the benefit wasn’t enough to make me want to do it again! Media deprivation though, absolutely, bring it on!
Thank you so much for all your lovely comments and thoughts! I like the idea of taking the weekend or at least one day a week off media, like unplugged Sunday. I think that’s more realistic than trying a whole week (just can’t do it at the moment…is this already an addiction?). Loved all your comments! Thank you! Much Love, Halina
Hey Halina, I agree, starting easy is the best plan – I started with one day a week, now it’s a full weekend, and this weekend it’ll be a LONG weekend offline! x