Ilde Creativity

This one goes out to all the bright minds who feel like their creativity could use some company. Whether you’re dusting things off or charging full speed ahead, this one is for you.

Idle: avoiding work, lazy, without purpose or effect.

Well when you put it that way… any other creative characters in the building feel a little salt in the wound? Speaking from recent experience, being idle can feel either like a much needed break to recoup, revamp, and recharge OR sometimes it just feels like you’ve neglected your craft. Maybe a mix of both - maybe some of these pieces are relatable and a tad laughable too.

Finish what you started

• Tons of miscellaneous notes

• Drafts collecting dust

• Project ideas brainstormed with no concrete action

• Projects you’ll “return to later”

• Loss of motivation

• The creative block

Did you check any of these off as you went? Yeah, happens to me too.

Feeling Stumped 🪵

As different as the creative process can look for us individually, feeling stuck on any project gives us an opportunity to embrace a growth mindset. Here are some of the best reflections I’ve taken away from a creative block:

Pros

• time to refresh old ideas

• shift your creative direction

• rest & recharge your energy

• expand your resources

• build your support system intentionally

• reevaluate your commitment and capacity As you grow at your own pace, gaps can serve as more than just “time off” — they allow you opportunities to change your mind or stay the course. You set the pace!

Piecing it together

For context, I am one of those souls who have so many passions and big picture ideas. I love finding creative solutions and pouring my energy into something that can be shared with others. The creative process is ongoing, and often presents its own set of strengths and challenges. This process itself creates change internally as we respond to the changes and challenges with solutions.

Do you love! Creativity is truly limitless and you are capable of overcoming any challenges that arise.

What choreography taught me about the creative process:

This particular process was an assignment for my Composition (choreography) class as a Dance major and it was honestly the hardest one for me personally. Prompt — create 4 unique shapes and create 4 different phrases transitioning between each shape (in a different order)

I spent hours after class, before class, and any studio time I could squeeze in trying to piece it together. I drilled it because I couldn’t remember my own transitions. I had it down. When I performed it in class, I started my movement — then blanked. I told myself, it’s okay. Restart. Second try, drew a blank in a phrase I had done so many times. Pretty sure I attempted a third run and felt so defeated that I had less than my finished product to show.

Of course, my professor had seen the effort and exploration leading up to that showing. She watched as I spent extra time in the studio before and after class, scribbling drawings and notes in my journal, practicing the movements and transitions in my downtime to help me retain the sequence. My expectation was that my (lengthy) choreography not only had to be complete, but also had no room for pause or mistakes. After putting so much time and energy into it, I hadn’t shown the dance in its completion but the creative process was rewarding and I still demonstrated a commitment to the assignment.

At the end of the showing, she reassured me that the movement I created was something to be proud of. I wasn’t the only dancer that seemed to have trouble recalling their own choreography. Some of us froze, restarted multiple times, or cut the sequence short. Each of us visibly frustrated that our creation didn’t live up to our best. When we reflected on the process, we put so much pressure on ourselves to perfect our performance that we struggled to execute it. The biggest win was how supportive our entire class was. Everyone had created such unique movement and observed with kind eyes even when we struggled. Ultimately, I was proud that I know I cranked out movement new to my body and that snippets of the entire piece were received well by my peers. I was still doing something that I loved and had support to lift me up at the finish line.

Do what you love and set your own pace! The creative process is not universal. You probably aren’t a machine that can just crank out creative material on demand especially if you enjoy taking the time and effort to nurture your creations.

You’ve got this.

Truth be told, you’re probably sitting on some gems. Dust them off and give your projects/goals the time and attention they deserve. If you doubt yourself, find one person to give you that extra positive boost or reassurance. Check in with them at a pace that you will honor consistently. Adapt your pace as you go. If you feel you’ve got all the time in the world and keep pushing it back, the time is now! Think of why you started. What sparked that original idea? Has it evolved? Do you still feel curious, challenged or creative?Then jump back in & grow with the flow.

P.S.

When you are your hardest critic, be your biggest cheerleader. Kindness is a reward for every step of progress that your creativity gifts to you.