Art You Creatively Blocked? - The Artist's Way

Question – The author gives some clues to knowing if you are creatively blocked. Are you? How might you use these with a client

Julia Cameron writes "Many of us wish we were more creative. Many of us sense we are more creative, but unable to effectively tap that creativity. Our dreams elude us. Our lives feel somehow flat. Often, we have great ideas, wonderful dreams, but are unable to actualize them for ourselves. Sometimes we have specific creative longings we would love to be able to fulfill—learning to play the piano, painting, taking an acting class, or writing. Sometimes our goal is more diffuse. We hunger for what might be called creative living—an expanded expanded sense of creativity in our business lives, in sharing with our children, our spouse, our friends. . . . Many of us find that we have squandered our own creative energies by investing disproportionately in the lives, hopes, dreams, and plans of others. Their lives have obscured and detoured our own. As we consolidate a core through our withdrawal process, we becomem ore able to articulate our own boundaries, dreams, and authentic goals. Our personal flexibility increases while our malleability to the whims of others decreases. We experience a heightened sense of autonomy and possibility.. . How do you know if you are creatively blocked? Jealousy is an excellent clue. Are there artists whom you resent? Do you tell yourself, “I could do that, if only...” Do you tell yourself that if only you took your creative potential seriously, you might: 

• Stop telling yourself, “It’s too late.” 
• Stop waiting until you make enough money to do something you’d really love.
• Stop telling yourself, “It’s just my ego” whenever you yearn for a more creative life. 
• Stop telling yourself that dreams don’t matter, that they are only dreams and that you should be more sensible. 
• Stop fearing that your family and friends would think you crazy.
Stop telling yourself that creativity is a luxury and that you should be grateful for what you’ve got.


I find myself to be a very creative power.  My career is creative, my hobbies are creative and my world view is creative. I really feel that I am connected to a waterfall of creativity.

When I worked with clients using yoga, meditation and breathwork I try to see what really turns them on - where is their joy and bliss and that becomes what creativity means to me.  You don't need to have a paint brush to be creative, you can be a singer, a gardner, a comedian, a cook, a scrap booker any of these things.  You can live your life as creativity.  Just be open to trying.

I think it is important we take responsibility for our own creative and not let other people control it.  I see this a lot with actors.  Make your own pieces! Find other ways to get that creative feeling.  Don't stop being creative just because you aren't cast.