This past weekend I wanted to keep plugging away at my upcoming holiday collection. I’m ahead on the collection and have been feeling really inspired so I figured I’d just keep the momentum going. My energy had other plans. None of my paintings were coming out the way I wanted. So I figured I’d just do a little non-holiday related sketching, nope. I started to feel overwhelmed and quite honestly, cranky. What is usually my happy place was becoming stressful.
Instead of pushing through like I normally would or panicking that I was wasting precious nap time essentially doing nothing, I took a step back for a few days. I went on walks, lounged around, watched some inspirational art and cooking shows. I didn’t even open the door to my studio.
And then today, I felt the shift. I finally felt ready to paint, to play, to try new things. I enjoyed it all again. And I thought “maybe this is why I always stopped painting or being creative in the past.” I thought that it should always be ON, creativity is a constant cup that’s always full. Quite naive of me. Instead, I’m learning that you have to create space for it. Fill the cup when it’s low by doing something else. When I stop pushing so hard, it flows. I don’t suck, I just need some space.
A PSA for my future self.
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