When I find myself doing something for any length of time, I become discouraged by the predictability, the sureness and the comfort. When most people are glad to have a routine, I become bored. When most are working out a formula, I’m looking at throwing out the batch and starting fresh. It’s been both an advantage and a disadvantage to my life so far. If I’ve envisioned the outcome of a situation and am fairly certain it will play out to my prediction, I find waiting to see if I’m right or wrong horrendously tedious but at the same time, I can often manipulate things to my advantage.
I suppose I’m rambling here but my point is that I’ve become increasingly restless in past weeks. I’m itching for the next thing, the next event, the next phase. I’m finding myself less appreciative of what I have and pining more and more for what I don’t have. Ideas are multiplying and I’m without resources to bring them to fruition. I know something will come out of this but at this point I don’ t know what that will be.
Do you ever feel like this? How do you deal with it? How do you harvest the angst and turn it into something of value?
I’m afraid I didn’t provide much in the way of inspiration this week and I’m sorry for that…but maybe you can inspire me. What are you working on? Share your link!
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So basically, Lisa, hurry the heck up and stop going offline for the weekend, eh? LMAO j/k
Yes, I get you. I want to have what I want to have RIGHTNOW, especially if I’ve worked long and hard on it, I want it to be done rightthisveryseconddammit.
So yeah, this slacker was wayyy offline, Christmas shopping, flag football-watchin’, and going-to-bed-early’in. I’m actually pretty concerned about that last one.
Let’s resume our emails, and move forth, shall we?
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting´s last blog ..Do you know what happens when you go to sleep at 9pm?
yes, slacker! My brain is going a mile a minute and I’d like to know what’s going on in your head. Email me back when you can
I’m coming to read yer blog…
Congrats, you are in a stage of creativity. I too have flitted from thing to thing, from blocked door to blind alley, and used to think myself a dilletante but my take on things has evolved over years…
In the creative process you go through conception (i.e. you’re in the dating stage and the divine idea will show up when you trust that it doesn’t matter, when you return to the wisdom of your own words and reverse them into being happy with where you are, including the frustration of this moment).
Now it is possible that you are just a tiny bit blocked creatively (I wrote my dissertation on creative block), but it’s best to meditate on the purpose of the stuckness, then deeper answers come.
One hypothesis is that in our narcissistic world (we’re all narcissists pretty much, some at least know it and own up, try to recover, make the work about spirit) we might stop and realize that our creative impulses (and blockages) are the workings of a deeper Self.
Here it’s good to dialogue with that, with what is—trees, synchronicities, etc. Ask, “What do you want me to learn, give, feel, grasp or release?” No one can tell you your path, but I can encourage you to stay with it, and to trust your instinct to interconnect with such seemingly random aspects of the interconnected Self as this comment.
Finally, art is very often about suffering, Keine angst, keine kunst, but the key is in making it productive suffering. My passion has shifted from film to parenting via yoga and psychology; but the ultimate point is to wake up together via the creative process of life, seeing being an artist as a way you are rather than a thing you make or do. I encourage us to dedicate our creative process to the well-being of all our collective children, but set whatever intention you care most deeply about and harness your struggle to it. Then it will not be for naught.
Namaste, Bruce
Hi Bruce, thanks for stopping by. Am I blocked? No, it’s not that. I have an impossible amount of ideas happening however, time to work on them is in short supply.
Hey Heather,
I know what you mean. It seems often that lack of time appears to be my biggest obstacle to getting further with the many projects I’d like to do—they’re like so many great kids deserving of attention, but not necessarily more attention than my actual kids.
I didn’t think you sounded blocked, but thought it worth a mention as a form of block can be a circular stuckness where there are ideas but no traction (this relates more to artists without kids, we have different realities, for better or worse).
Anyway, cool site. I’m a big fan of the importance of creativity, and in your being an artist and choosing to inspire and support other artists, you inspire others toward co-creating our world in whatever new ways we might envision out of the mist.
Namaste
Privilege of Parenting´s last blog ..Tough Love, effective love and just plain love
I am very different from you. I itch to get back to my life routine when I’m thrown out of it, so I can engage my imagination again. My imaginary life is never routine.
Charles gramlich´s last blog ..The Moon Calls up Strange Things
that doesn’t surprise me about you at all. I have this sense that if we met on the street you’d be just as I believe you to be in my head.
I get the same way…especially when the seasons are changing. Sometimes a new haircut does the trick…other times I have to sign up for a class, or start a new hobby. Good luck!
amber´s last blog ..Things To Remember: Part Two.
thanks Amber! I am getting close to haircut time
I hear you! Diving into anything can be so much more exciting than just treading water. Perhaps you are simply catching your breath before the net big wave comes along.
If you get a moment, please check out the Call for Stories posted on my blog. The artist putting out the call got her inspiration while collecting deadwood – goes to show that ideas can come from anywhere
ArtSnark´s last blog ..Monday’s Muse: Jamie Ribisi-Braley wants YOUR story
thanks Stacy, yes, it does feel as though a wave is on the horizon
And of course I’ll come check out your post…on my way !
I have this feeling quite often. I can’t seem to focus and write a bunch of notes… sometimes starting one idea and then realizing that I don’t have time for it because I didn’t finish the last one. I think when the restlessness comes it’s time to have a break in regular activities. For instance, if you normally work from your home office move your computer/laptop into a different room for the day or week. If you always work in pajamas then rush to get ready for appointments, get dressed first. If you’re tired, take a nap and don’t put it off. Read a engrossing book or watch an engaging movie – both of which get your mind off the swirl of activity in the brain. I don’t know that I’ve totally mastered getting rid of the flustered and restless feeling, but at least I can sometimes calm it a bit.
Petula´s last blog ..Take a day off
you’ve described what I’m feeling very well! There are too many ideas and not enough time to work on them all. I guess I’ll have to take a step back and let the good ones surface. I have picked up an amazing new book….
Okay, I know this was like an eon ago… but what book?
Petula´s last blog ..Just a little behind, a little random
The Gathering by Anne Enright, 2007 Man Booker prize winner. It was amazing!