I write a lot about working hard, developing your talent and practicing your art. It’s almost something of a mantra! I repeat these ideas over and over again, because I really believe they are essential to success. But one thing I haven’t written much about is when following through on these practices becomes a struggle.
Some days, working hard and practicing your art comes easily. You feel in the groove, and everything clicks. You have a vision for a client and you know exactly what you want to create and how to do it. I love these days! But other days, everything feels wrong. Your ideas feel stale. Or, you’re distracted by an argument you had with your spouse or you’re worried about money or your child is having trouble at school or you have an unhappy client. And on these days, nothing clicks. These are the days when it’s really hard to create. The last thing you want to do or have the energy to do is sit down and design a new floral centerpiece, lighting arrangement or cake design.
I have good news and bad news about such days. The bad news is that these are the days when it is MOST important to create. I mean it. It’s almost more important to work on your designs when it’s the last thing you want to do than when you’re excited and eager and feeling creative. The good news is that when you focus on getting creative, you can sometimes design your way out of a funk and end up creating some of your most original work!
Some of you are probably thinking right now, “Okay, sure, Preston, that sounds all well and good, but how do I do this? It’s so hard!”
And you’re right. It’s really, really hard. You could stand in your studio and stare at your sketch pad or at that bucket of fresh flowers and just try and will yourself to do something. But when I’ve tried that I just get frustrated and panicky.
Instead, step back. You have to find your mindfulness. Take a deep breath. Turn away from your sketch pad or work bench. Close your eyes. Take another deep breath. Focus on what it feels like to breathe. What does it feel like to inhale? What does it feel like to exhale? Turn the corners of your mouth up slightly into a small smile. Breathe. Smile. Breathe. Smile. Keep doing this. You’ll start to feel the tension in your body and mind evaporate. Keep going until all of the tension is gone.
When you return to your sketch pad or that bucket of flowers, you are now relaxed and can begin again, this time with mindfulness. Focus on what it feels like to pick up the pencil or what it feels like to hold that flower in your hand. Feel the texture and the smell of it. Be full of mind with just this moment. I like to think of this practice as the one-step-at-a-time practice. I’m not thinking about the outcome or what my finished product will look like. I’m focused on what I’m doing in that moment.
This technique always helps me clear my creative fog, and I’m often pleasantly surprised by what my mind creates on these days. One of my favorite quotes about mindfulness comes from the wonderful Buddhist monk Nyanaponika Thera, who said: “Two thoughts cannot coexist at the same time: if the clear light of mindfulness is present, there is no room for mental twilight.”
Dear Readers, I hope this helps you the next time you’re feeling uninspired. What are some other techniques you use to get your creative juices flowing again? Let’s help each other. Please share your tips and experiences in the comments.
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Michele Schwartz
September 28, 2011
Great reminder Preston! I think some of my best centerpiece ideas came to me when I was tired, couldn’t focus and in the middle of a panic about getting everything done. But, I wouldn’t have remembered the incident with a positive spin without your blog post. Next time, I’m feeling the same way–hopefully, I’ll put my creative energy to work with a positive mind set. Thanks!
Gregg Hollmann
September 28, 2011
Agree Preston that immersion in one’s craft is critical to success. As a DJ performer, time stands still once I’m immersed in a party and it’s the best feeling in the world when nothing else is on my mind but the music and the dancefloor action. The pre-gig jitters, the apprehension about getting every special song.. they all melt away.
Aisha W.
September 28, 2011
Thanks for that great information, Preston! It applies not only to our industry which is a constant draw on our creative juices but for life in general. We all come across those difficult days and it’s better to re-centre and move on then mope and run away. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
Rebecca Lang
September 28, 2011
Great post! Taking a breath is so critcal, but also mostly overlooked. I know myself, no matter how much I plan or set time apart, I find myself freaking out to make sure everything perfect or that everything needs to look just like I had in my mind. I usually have my team to calm me down, but this excercise is great too! Thanks Preston!
Pam Archer
September 28, 2011
You are so right! Taking a deep breath and clearing your mind, relieving tension, are all important to regrouping and refocusing. I have found that getting out of my workshop and creating in a different way helps me overcome that funk or lack of design thoughts. Working in my flower garden, or even rearranging something in my house, doing something crafty and fun, scrapbooking, anything creative besides designing florals is what gets me going. It’s like a staycation. It’s the same thought process as yours, with a different approach.
Vanessa Alce
September 28, 2011
I have to write my ideas down and draw them out even if they are the most basic thoughts. I continue to tweak them until something creative is birthed. I think we run into problems when we put added stress on ourselves to always create that masterpiece. Often, those masterpieces have a very basic beginning.
Eve
September 28, 2011
Beautiful message. Thank you!
lindsey
September 28, 2011
Exercise!
Kivilcim
September 29, 2011
I am going to try your way of dealing bad mood, hopefully it helps.
Savannah (Pearls and Pages)
October 13, 2011
Preston, this is–as always–just the post I needed to click on in my RSS feedbox today! We all these types of days: days where we feel like we can take on the world…and we do in our own creative way, and then days when we feel so distracted or so depressed or so agitated and mind-cluttered that we SAY we can’t create.
If you’ve created once, twice, you can do it again and again.
Your tips are fabulous and encouraging. I always remember what you had said awhile ago…”Get up, dress up, show up” and that applies to so much in life, including forcing yourself to create and design even in the dampest of moods.
Today I’m staring at a blank page on which I’m supposed to write my “aspired breakthrough novel,” tidy up the apartment and office space (a cluttered space can lend to a cluttered mind), and tackle some wedding blogging that is due. It’s not my worst day, but it certainly isn’t my best in the whole “I’m compelled to create” department.
What can I do to mend this trouble aside from browsing through my list of blog posts from the fabulous PB? Pilates is a great way to clear the mind and relax– to focus. That’s what I’ll be doing in a second! Sometimes just staring and staring at that screen/blank page helps. Eventually it might come to you. Wait for it. It’ll happen. Taking a walk, making a latte, and reading a chapter of a favorite or current book are also great ideas.
All the best and many thanks, Preston!