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5 Ways to Stay Creatively Blocked

Have you ever wondered about the huge number of “blocks” we encounter every day? Why, there’s blocks of time, building blocks, block parties, chopping blocks, and people who block your car in the driveway. Oh, yes, let’s also not forget CREATIVITY BLOCKS!

Creativity blocks? What are those you ask? You already know! Creativity blocks are those things that cause you to get stuck or stall completely when it comes to doing the creative work that you love. The comparing, the perfectionism, the task-master, the fear of criticism. You know what I’m talking about.

How does one learn how to overcome those darn creativity blocks? I’ll let you in on a secret… here are some things that won’t help you to overcome them. Here are five ways to stay creatively blocked:

1. Compare yourself to great masters.
   That’s right, keep looking back at the Leonardo's, Raphael's, Michelangelo's, and Donatello's of the world (NOT the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) thinking that you must reach the same level of fame to rationalize your life as an artist. Relax, those artists would totally freak today if they found out how much everyone idolizes the Mona Lisa.
   
   
2. Expect everything you create to be perfect.
   …and make sure your experiments and mistakes are perfect too. Who do you think you are, anyway? Nobody’s prefect (<--see!). Even Adam and Eve blew it.
   
   
3. Forget that a studio is a place for study.
   Yes, go look up the word "studio" right now in your dictionary and re-familiarize yourself with the root of the word. And it’s not “stud” either.
   
   
4. Allow one unconstructive criticism to destroy you.
   That old woman with the blue hair may have no respect for your abstract tin can sculptures, but you don’t care for blue hair either. So call it even and remember that opinions are like apples.
   
   
5. Think you have to get it done right now.
   What, are you some magic wizard or something? How did you get 53 hours allotted in your day when the rest of us only have 24? Listen, the work will be there when you wake up tomorrow, and the day after if you need that too. Now take a deep breath and go for that well-needed walk. •

© 2006 Chris Dunmire, CoachingYourCreativity.com. All rights reserved. (01/27/06). Please do not duplicate this article elsewhere without my permission.

About the Author
Chris Dunmire is the author of the Dollar Bill Origami Money Plant and driving force behind the popular Creativity Portal Web site. She finds meaning as an artist, humorist, and creativity coach and channels her overactive imagination into multiple containers on display at ChrisDunmire.com.