Sometimes, life throws us curveballs that we never see coming. These challenges can be big or small, but they can all have a big impact on our mental health and creativity.
If you’re a creative person, you know that your work is often a reflection of your inner state. When you’re going through a tough time, it can be hard to find the motivation to create. But it’s important to remember that creativity can also be a powerful tool for healing and coping.
Here are some tips for rising above the unthinkable and reignite your creative spirit:
- Prioritise self-care. This means taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. You should also find activities that help you relax and de-stress. Do things that empower yourself.
- Embrace the healing power of creativity. Give yourself time and space to grieve and then, when you’re done, try to engage in creative activities that you enjoy. This could be anything from writing to painting to playing music. From time to time it’s normal to feel down. Letting your creativity flow can help you process your emotions and find new ways to cope with your challenges.
- Seek support from others. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, family, or professional counsellors for support. Talking to others about what you’re going through can help you feel less alone and can give you the strength to keep going. Do make good choices though. There’s an old expression “Misery loves company”. Avoid people who’re going to take you on a journey of drugs and alcohol because that doesn’t make for a sustainable solution.
- Adapt and find new perspectives. Unthinkable events can shake our world view and make us question everything. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this. Many other people have faced similar challenges and have come out stronger on the other side. Allow yourself to grow and evolve as a creative in the face of adversity. Some of the most creative work has seeds in adversity.
- Practice resilience and grit. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, and grit is the determination to keep going even when things are tough. These are both important qualities for creative people to have. When you’re facing challenges, remind yourself that you’re strong and capable. Keep going, even when things are tough. Many people do positive things out of spite – they get told they can’t do something, and they go right ahead and do it to prove they were right. Did you ever have a teacher say you can do things and yet here you are, years later, doing it?
- Pivot. Pivoting is a transformative process that allows us to navigate the aftermath of the unthinkable by embracing change and turning in a new direction. It’s the idea behind the expression, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. It involves reassessing our goals, exploring alternative paths, and finding innovative solutions to adapt to the new circumstances. Pivoting requires flexibility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to step outside our comfort zones.
By embracing the opportunity to pivot, we open ourselves up to new possibilities, creative growth, and the potential to forge a fresh path forward. In the face of the unthinkable, pivoting can be a powerful tool that empowers us to reclaim control, reinvent ourselves as creatives, and find renewed purpose in our artistic endeavours.
Remember, you are not alone in your journey. There are people who care about you and want to help. With time and effort, you can rise above the unthinkable and unbearable, and reignite your creative spirit.
Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash