Fear can block our creativity

That sounds daft I know but take a moment to imagine yourself telling a story. Imagine yourself telling the story to someone you love and who loves you. You probably feel warmth and energy as you fill in the details of your tale to your friend’s delight, the feedback, even without words, is positive. Now, imagine telling that same story to someone who, for whatever reason, makes you uncomfortable. The wonderful descriptions, the fine points and colourful images that unfolded in your mind for your friend probably won’t present themselves. Instead of warmth, energy, and creativity, you will most likely feel opposite sensations and a desire to close down. When we feel unsafe, whether we fear being judged, disliked, or misunderstood, our creative flow stops. Alternately, when we feel safe, our creativity unfolds like a beautiful flower, without conscious effort.

young couple in casual clothes enjoying coffee and chatting

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

Being aware of this is a positive as we can maximize our creative potential by creating the conditions that inspire our creativity. In order to really be in the flow, we need to feel safe and unrestricted. Being in the flow is something that happens, not created. It happens because we are so enthralled and wrapped up in what we are doing, that time flies by and before we know it a whole day has gone by. Achieving being in the flow is not as simple as avoiding people who make us feel uncomfortable. Sometimes we can be alone in a room and still feel totally blocked. When this happens, we know we have come up against elements in our own psyches that are making us feel uneasy and fearful. Perhaps we are afraid that in expressing ourselves we will discover something we don’t want to know, or unleash emotions or ideas that we don’t want to be responsible for. Or maybe we’re afraid we’ll fail to produce something worthy.

When you’re up against fear, internal or external, ritual can be a creative and powerful antidote. Ensure you have everything you need to be creative. Have your right pens, paper, equipment ready. Make sure you have a drink nearby, and something to snack on. Play your favourite music if it helps. Think about what creates the perfect space for you to be in the flow, and then let it happen naturally. You cannot force it. Flow will happen when your setting is right, when you are not fearful or being judged and you feel safe and warm. Take a moment to bathe in the warmth of this feeling and then fearlessly surrender yourself to the power that flows through you.

If this has resonated with you in any way, please let me know. I would love to hear from you.

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