I am feeling blocked at the moment. Not because I have no inspiration, no- I am overwhelmed by possibly to much! Somehow I seem unable to stop and put it to work. Hence I have been doing lots of photography, making art cards, photo books... but I seem unable to sketch or make jewellery! There is a voice in my head which doesn't stop telling me, I am not good enough.
At the Craft meeting Jezze told me that she read somewhere that this rather annoying voice is necessary and helps us to get better. But I have mentally block myself completely and am unable to produce anything these days...How do I get out of this?
My first attempt was to simply get more inspiration, hoping it will get better. I have taken thousands of photos looked at a million beautiful things, pondered over the beauty of the world, how things touch me and gotten totally swamped with inspirations. So somehow I got inspiration overload, and I am even worse blocked.
What do you do to stop the nagging 'you are not good enough' voice?
7 comments:
this shot is gorgeous this is a true inspiration to me! I understand that feeling yes thinking that I'm not good enough, have a wonderful week!!!!
I usually have a break from the internet (let's say 2 days), recenter myself by staying on my own (for let's say... 2 days !) and have a major clean-up in the house & amongst my craft stuff. I stop creating & go out for meaningless shopping, or walk in the countryside.
this landscape photo is incredibly beautiful, it looks like a painting !
I hope you'll feel more still soon xo
i completely understand that voice! i try to ignore it. but if i can't, i stop what i'm doing, step away, and take another look the next day. and if i still hate it, then i take that as a "i'm going in the wrong direction" feeling. then i try again.
the hardest thing to remember is you're creating for yourself, and who really cares what everyone else thinks! :)
I know this feeling too ! It's coming back again every time I left the studio for a while...
When I come back, I think I have to learn every thing from the beginning again and more I am looking for a new start, more I find nothing !
So, usually, I just try to take one day at a time, do something else completly different like walking, reading, going out in museums or galleries and then, I do an intuitive collage...
For me, it works like magic !
Good luck !!
You can stop it??
Fine photo. I love how it disappears into the cloud.
Lovely photos, as always! Oh, I think this block thing is suffered by every single person who does something creative, so it might help a little for you to know that you are not alone. I completely understand the inspiration overload - I try to limit my time on the Internet now for exactly that reason - one is so inundated by ideas and inspiration and evidence of others' fantastic work, that it can all become too overwhelming. It works for me to switch off from intentional creative pursuits for a while. I just read or walk or see movies or play with the dog (or proofread - bleaggh), and after a couple of days or weeks of this, I am really popping to do something! Sometimes it can last a couple of months though ...
I agree with the comment by PaintedFish - you really create for yourself firstly, no matter how important or famous you are or become. So do not compare yourself to others. That voice that says you are not good enough - where does it come from? It is usually because you are comparing yourself with others. And we (especially women) tend to sell ourselves short. Your photos are fantastic, your knitting is beautiful, your jewellery, although I haven't seen it yet, will be amazing, I know. So give yourself a break!
PS I am so glad you liked my succulent photos - yes, by all means you can use them ...
Another useful thing I read: tell your internal critic to take a day's leave. It sounds silly, but I've found it works. I tell her to go for a walk and chill out, I'm on top of things and I'll ask for her advice when I want it.
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