How Do You Move Through Creative Blocks?
How Do You Move Through Creative Blocks?
“Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too. If she doesn’t show up invited, eventually she just shows up.” — Isabel Allende
Question, how do you move through creative blocks? I would love to know leave a comment below! For years, I have been in a state of fight or flight. Maybe you have been too? It makes creating difficult AF. I listened to this yesterday in Rick Ruben’s book, The Creative Act, “Creativity doesn’t happen when your life depends on it.” Creating for a living becomes especially tricky while I am tending to sick children, deeply feeling heart crushing world events, and holding the weight of everything in my life together with blue painter’s tape. Sometimes, I literally have to force myself. Read more here. There is no other option, I have work that’s on deadline for food styling, recipe development, or writing.
Yesterday, I had two assignments due and after two weeks of back to back creating (and sick kids) I could feel my burnout deep in my bones. I know when I create from this place my work is absolute shit. I may test and retest recipes. I may even have to reshoot something because I don’t send work that I don’t love to a client. I call this state “driving in the breakdown lane.” It’s a wild thing that happens during the morning commute from Rhode Island to Boston — people literally drive in the breakdown lane, sometimes really fast! It's completely terrifying and I did the commute when I worked for the Boston Marriott as a young sous chef.
My solution to “driving in the breakdown lane” can vary depending on time and my capacity. I haven't taken a day off in weeks so I went on a very long Artist Date. If you are unfamiliar with Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way, it's taking yourself to a place that inspires you — you don’t need to spend a dime. For me, an Artist Date is usually walking the aisles of Whole Foods looking for new or trending products. I also went to community acupuncture, if you are in Northern, New Jersey I highly recommend Dana Holmes, she is trauma informed. She helped me open my third eye and crown chakra points known to open creativity. The Artist Date helped center me and gave me distance from my projects and deadlines to be able to create my Chamomile Anise Tea Mocktail recipe and create a branded podcast (coming soon).
Note: When I don’t have hours to spare I rely on my Show Up Fully Method: Rest, Deep Nourishment, Movement, Mindfulness, and Water. These are the five things that I aim for every day (no, I am not perfect). This method is based on things that I can do that are fast, easy, and free. This method has been a guiding force for the last five years. I know when things feel off track or I am close to the edge of burnout I can come back home when I use these principles. If you are curious to try and it feels aligned, here is a Free Five Day Challenge on the podcast that you can listen to here
What’s Nourishing My Creativity Right Now:
Listening to Alex Toussaint’s new book, Activate Your Greatness. If you need a reminder of your power and purpose | Listen here
Sharing my focaccia recipe, there is nothing like the smell of yeast and the pleasure of dipping this bread in olive oil and balsamic and sip with my sweet potato mocktail | Make the recipes this weekend!
Arranging Trader Joe’s Flowers. This is such a pleasure of mine! I will post the video on Instagram | Follow along here
Donating to World Central Kitchen. Victoria Granof taught us about the power of donating. She raised 25k for WCK | Listen & donate here
Posting my conversation, “Where is your Vagina Pointing? Speaking of aligning your chakras, let Alissa guide you through this practice. | Listen here
xo Chef Carla
PS: Join The Nourishing Creativity Mini-Retreat: We will meet on Saturday October 28th from 1:00-3:00 pm EST. Here is the link to sign up. This is usually for paid subscribers but I feel the weight of the world right now. All are welcome in this space that register and attend live. Don’t worry if you missed it, we will have another one next month!
Maybe you have a project writing, creating, course work, that nonprofit idea, advocating for others or yourself, that you have been dreaming about or needs tending to? This is your sign and dedicated space held for you to ideate or get straight to work. And it’s totally valid to tend to yourself (hello, scheduled walk or nap)!
We also have a guest, my friend Stephanie Pereira Lima. She will lead us through a meditation and breath work flow for creativity for about 10 minutes and then we will get into our creative projects. There will be a recording for the paid subsrcibers, if you can’t make it. You can do this retreat anytime you feel called.
Update: Stephanie was not able to join us. I will be sharing a new meditation practice with paid subscribers next week.
Note: My content is always free! If you would like to support my writing, please share it with a friend. If you would like to upgrade to attend the mini-retreats monthly and receive the recordings, please do! Some of these are affiliate links. I receive a small percentage of the sales. I appreciate your support of my small Latiné & women owned business.