The Creative Block Prescription
Creative block sucks.
You don’t know where to start. You make some progress and aren’t happy with the results so you hit the refresh button and start again. The cycle continues and before we know it, we’ve dug ourselves into a very deep deeeeep hole. Booohooooo.
I think we can all agree nobody likes that hole.
So how do we avoid it at all costs?
By continuously making progress. Sounds so simple but it’s the prescription to beating the block.
We push ourselves to show up and continue putting in the reps even when nothing seems to be coming to fruition. These are the most important moments because we’re training for the fight. We’re getting ourselves ready for the Creative War that we’ll be battling for the rest of our lives.
The good news is you will WIN it as long as you STAY in it.
Continuously pick up the pen. Continuously get in the booth. Continuously open that creative program on your computer. Continuously submit audition tapes. Continuously do whatever it is that you’re trying to do.
Most of us think the glory is in the final destination but I would beg to differ.
The really glory is those lonely nights when nobody is watching, listening or caring about that thing you’re so passionate about. It’s actually a gift because they’re paying you no attention… they’re SLEEPIN’ on you and that’s a blessing.
Why? Because now is the time to hone in on the craft. To get real sharp and prepare yourself for what the future has in store for you.
Back in March of 2017, I was in New York City interviewing a music mogul in the making, Tim Larew, on a podcast for Purpose in the Youth when he said “opportunity is when luck meets preparation.”
At the time it didn’t really strike me the way it does now.
Without preparation, we’ll never be ready for the opportunity. Luck is when the work has been put in, the right opportunity comes our way & we rise to the occasion because we’re trained for that moment. We hit that ball deeeeep because we’ve earned it!
That’s when all the stars align & were off to the races.
So how do we get to that moment? By dodging the creative block like you’re the next Muhammid Ali. Float like a butterfly & sting like a bee baby!
Our biggest enemy is ourselves. It’s the only roadblock getting in OUR way from making any sort of progress. Once we learn to accept that, the sky is the limit. Other people’s success becomes proof of concept. We no longer are jealous of them… we’re inspired by them and we let it fuel the fire inside us. LET IT BURN!
If they eatin’ so can WE!
That’s the mindset.
I honestly wanted to give up on this blog 30 mins ago. I tried brainstorming what in the world I wanted to talk about.
I wrote a couple sentences… erased.
Tried it again… erased.
Third time’s a charm? Erased.
But I continued to put in the reps and made it here.
Don’t be fooled by anyone you see out there “crushing it”. They have their moments like any of us but they refuse to let the creative block beat them.
Show the world who the REAL BOSS is by making small progress daily even while no one is looking.
One day it’ll all pay off… I guarantee it.
Don’t believe me? Only one way to find out ;)
The Bearded Man