What disturbs you the most? What is the thing you think about when you can't sleep at night?
A good way to look at your creativity is to look at what is occupying your thoughts. Even if you can't put words to it, what is the energy behind it?
Maybe you can't write because you have a strong and powerful inner critic, or maybe it's because you're feeling vague and confused.
Rather than disown these feelings, take a closer look at them. Maybe you struggle with strong people in your life, maybe it's authority that troubles you. Maybe that's what you need to write about.
Or maybe you're vague and confused, but that troubles you because you look down on being vague and confused.
All too often we search for creativity as if it's just across the street, just out of our reach, as if it'll turn up if we keep holding on. If only we could get out of our heads.
Perhaps the ghosts of all the writers and artists who died painful drug and drink induced deaths were just trying to get to that magic place on the other side of the road. The place just outside of themselves.
Maybe we just need to look closer at ourselves. Whatever we think we're meant to be doing to be creative, so often it's the opposite.
Are you busy and productive but keep hitting a brick wall? Maybe you need to be lazy and quiet!
Keep splitting your mind between tiny projects that drive you insane? Maybe you need to focus on the delayed gratification of one larger project.
Find yourself exhausted due to your wild ambitions? Maybe you need to want for nothing and sit in a comfortable chair.
Whatever you think is right, I bet the opposite is equally valid. In fact, it may be the one ingredient you're missing.
