Lost, Unmotivated, or Creatively Blocked? Here's How To Reignite Your Spark.

"It is Thursday and I should be writing music." That is what I am telling myself; that is what I am noticing about my thoughts. And yet, deep within, something else is stirring. A deep knowing that the space away from production is just as important as the music making process itself.

Space to be; space to explore; space to simply sit and marvel at the world. To notice. To touch, to taste, to smell, to feel.

All of this translates into something meaningful. Life provides a backdrop, a muse for the creative juices to flow, and I love that. And yet, at times, I find it hard to do something other than what I love doing. Other than making music. It pulls me in so beautifully and so often that it is easy to keep making music.

And then I remember this other thing: writing. More creation, but channeled in a different way. Today, I share the window to my thoughts; a reflection of how I feel.

I remind myself that the creative process is not linear. It never is. It is never create and create and create and create, although at times I would love it to be like that! It needs space to breathe. It needs reflection. It needs stillness. It needs disconnection just as much as it needs attention.

And so that is what this moment is: sitting in a cafe I have never been to, an empty coffee cup beside me. Writing and sharing these words as they come through, giving space for me to truly feel into this very moment.

There is a funky, disco driven beat with a diva screaming "beam me up, beam me up, beam me up, beam me up" from a sound bar. It sounds like it could have been written in the 70s, although some of the textures feel more modern. It's like it is nodding to the origins of disco while showcasing the evolution of music.

You might be wondering... "Why I am sharing this?" Because it feels good to share. It feels good to write for the sake of writing. That means, writing without having an end goal. Writing simply because it feels good to write. Also, I'm noticing that it feels good to not be in music making mode right now, especially because this time on a Thursday morning is when I would normally be deeply engaged with music production.

But on a deeper level (because I almost always go there!) there is something to be said for anyone who is struggling with being creative.

I am splitting this into two main areas of struggle and offering a reflection on both. The first is for the person who is not making time for their ideas, passion projects or creativity; the second is for the person who has the time but feels creatively stuck. Whichever you relate to, I encourage you to read both sections because there is wisdom and magic in each.

When Life Runs On Obligation & To-Do Lists Instead of Joy

If this is you, you are likely working in a job that is not really in alignment with what you want to be doing with your life. Sure, it pays your bills and funds your lifestyle, but your heart feels heavy and your head is likely on overdrive because you are giving more and more time and energy to something that does not inherently matter, not to you anyway.

If this resonates, know that where you are right now is perfect. It is perfect mainly because you cannot be anywhere other than where you are, so you might as well win one battle and accept this moment as it is.

But more than that, realize that your ideas and creativity needs an outlet; a way to be expressed. Think of your ideas, passion projects or creative pursuits like a good friend. If you ignored your friend, left their messages on read and kept making excuses as to why you have not caught up, promising you will catch up one day, what is the likelihood they will stick around?

We all have access to ideas and infinite creativity, so it is not like you will lose it completely. However, that idea you keep thinking about, that one thing calling you? It will not stick around forever. Liz Gilbert writes about this in her book Big Magic. She toys with the idea that ideas are part of the collective consciousness, and if you do not do something with them, they will be gifted to someone else and taken from you. It is never really taken from you; it is just that your excitement and passion for it will no longer exist.

Know that ideas and passion projects are 'given' to you because you are worthy of bringing them to the world. Because the Universe knows your magic, your skill, and your excitement, and it wants your signature on that idea. It wants your signature on life. It wants you to create in the way that only you can. It does not want a carbon copy of someone else. It wants you to find inspiration and put your spin on it. It wants you to do it your way.

So if you are not even giving time and energy to that? Not even when you get home from work or have a few hours on the weekend? Why? Do your dreams matter? Or have you let the voices of others convince you that your art is stupid or that you cannot make money being creative? Both thought highways exist, but they are foolish ideals from people who never stuck it out long enough to see their dreams come to fruition, or who allowed their failures to crush them and did not get back up.

A life without you creating in your own way is not a life fully lived. Sure, you can buy nice things; you can travel the world and eat until your belly is full, seeing all the greatest sights. But one of the truest gifts of life is experienced through what you give. What you create. That is the essence of life. Giving yourself. Not just in a job that pays your bills and funds your lifestyle (and yes, you will often need that while you are creating), but creating in a way that lights you up from the inside out.

That, my beautiful friend, is your purpose.

If this is you, you have time for your creativity, but you do not feel like you are doing anything you like, nor do you feel what you are making is good enough.

My words for you are this: get lost. Stop. Close your laptop. Put down your pen. Put down your paintbrush. Stop creating for a moment and take yourself somewhere you have never been.

This will awaken the senses. If you have been stuck for a while, you might need a few days away, or a week, or more. Do things you have never done. Play in life again and allow life to happen moment by moment.

When you are trying too hard to be creative, you are in a space of thought. Creativity does not happen from the mind. It happens through you. In true creation mode, you become the vessel for the creation to come through. And when you are not in that mode, it is a sign you are in your head and disconnected from yourself.

So, what can be done? Apart from having time away, I invite you to move your body. Regularly. Sweat. Dance. Play. Swim. Do a gym session that lights you up, or pilates or yoga if that is more your thing. Get out in nature. Walk. Run if you feel energetic enough to do so. Then, simply find space to sit and take in life.

Try new foods; listen to new music. Visit museums and art galleries. Watch movies you would never usually watch. Even something as simple as sitting in a cafe you've never been before with a book and a journal can help massive.

Then, once you've done something to take you away from your creativity and into yourself, listen to nothing.

Look around and notice everything for five minutes. Then close your eyes, be still with your breath. Awaken the connection to yourself again. Be with yourself. Bathe in your stillness, see if you can sense the pure beauty that comes with being alive.

The real overarching theme here is this: play with your senses. That is how you awaken creativity.

Not by forcing it. By allowing it to flow.

Flow happens by surrender. Creativity is found in the flow.

And everything you have just read guides you to your access point.

When You Have Space But No Spark

So there you have it. What I have written here has come through flow. When I started writing, I had the instinct to write one line: It is Thursday and I should be writing music. What happened from there was all flow. Creating for creation’s sake. I have shared my truth, some wisdom and have been reminded of what is important. This blog encapsulates the message I share. The giving of it feels good. I feel alive. Reconnected. And I know what I have shared will touch people’s hearts and inspire them to make a difference in their life.

And that's the magic of an idea, the magic creativity. Not only because it's touched people's hearts, but because it touched mine, too.

So go create.

Create in your own way, and take space to play with life again. Do this, and your creativity will be reignited.

With love, always.
Adam xx

Final Words