When the Journey Gets Rough

 

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ilyarexi – Stock.Adobe.com

I have a confession to make. Ready? I’m not always the confident, positive writer who marches purposefully along my creative journey. 2016 was a tough year full of health problems, work travel and negative events. Despite my best efforts, work on my current novel slowed from a humming 75 mph to about 5 mph.

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Marek – Stock.Adobe.com

Creative inertia is the worst! Your motivation takes a nose dive. Depression and frustration sets in. Soon you start to wonder if you really are on the right path. Here are some steps I took to escape creative inertia:

Do some self-care. Take a spa day, meditate or try a new hobby to relax
Take stock. Why do you do what you do? And is it still worth doing?
Adjust your definition of success. Are you enjoying those small successes or are you fixating on fame and fortune?
Fall in love with your creative journey again. Take a step back and really look at what you’ve done and where you’re going
Don’t take yourself too seriously! Nobody needs that kind of pressure.
Have Fun!