WHEN INSPIRATION IS TOO MUCH......

'Have you been blogged out?' a friend asked.
She'd noticed the lack of posts since the finish of my 30 Day Blogging Challenge. 

Not blogged out... no. 

I have a lot of drafts part written, ideas jostling for attention,
and my mind has been restless wanting to get these out. But I have tried to quieten these thoughts because I also have a design team project to make, a Christmas workshop to plan and prepare, and a host of other pressing things. So when my plans changed at the last minute and I found myself with a day I didn't expect, I thought 'GREAT'!  And I started to play...

Only it didn't happen. Not in the way I hoped. Somehow my mojo didn't get the message. Or rather, I had SO MANY ideas I didn't know where to start!  I adapted the attitude that ideas will come through the process rather than the other way round. But still I found myself flitting from one to another, overwhelmed by so many ideas and materials. I should count myself lucky, I know. And I do. It is wonderful when an idea pops and I can follow through, but gradually the table, chairs, floor, and every workspace around me gets covered. It not only looks chaotic, I feel it too.

I tried pushing though this. When ideas or projects did not turn out as I hope I carried on rather than abandon. Let's face it, sometimes happy accidents can result. Other times I learn from the experience and accept that not every thing will have the outcome I hoped for. And truly, as I write this, a sudden thought comes to me!

A realisation... 

This past month I have spent more hours blogging than ever before, and the 30 day challenge involved many hours of analytical thinking and thought processing. It's important to say that I see blogging as a creative activity because I love writing and connecting in this way with others. I do it for entirely for pleasure, but blogging every day occupied much of my thoughts even when I wasn't in front of the computer, and this involved a lot of left brain activity.

No wonder my mojo is missing! It wants to play, not perform! I feel under pressure to create, so why would my creativity want to come out if I am tense and impatient?

So yesterday I stopped what I was doing and went to the cinema.
Being spontaneous can add excitement to life, so while this wasn't exactly adventurous I've never been to the cinema in the afternoon before, so it was not the kind of thing I usually do. It was a great film by the way - A lady with a van. A true story of a lady who lived in a campervan in the driveway of Alan Bennett. I hoped this break might shift something. And today I got back to 'working' on ideas for the workshop and my  design team piece. But still my mojo wasn't there.

Now I see why!

My mojo doesn't want to 'work'. I have been too long in left brain and need to reconnect with my right! Sometimes having too much art supplies can be a hindrance and cause overwhelm.  Yes!  So in an effort to reduce this feeling I will go back and clear away much of what I got out, and just have fun.

Less is more, right?!

And this reminds me of a post I read the other day, where Lain Ehmann said 'inspiration is not enough, its too much'. Right now her words are inspiring me to keep going. 

'Instead of piling more into an already clogged conduit when

we're feeling stuck, we need to take the counterintuitive

approach and STOP the input and START the output'.

Lain Ehmann

I'm already doing this, and it's not feeling good. But Lain reminded me that it is important to keep at it, to shut down the inspirational flow and stop looking for ideas.

 

To just create.  At some point after all the false starts she says that the good things will start to emerge. I hope so. I am trusting my intuition and need to stop putting barriers in the way.

 

So, blogged out? No. Just trying to change gear and find my creativity. What do you do when you can't find yours?

MAKING TIME FOR 'ME'!

A few months ago a blog friend told me about 'Meet-Up'.  I'd heard about these but thought they were meant for people new to an area and intended as a way of building a social network. How wrong I was!  When I checked these meetings out I discovered a wealth of local groups covering every subject from archery to zumba. It was a place like minded people could gather. I signed up straight away! 

And 3 months ago I couldn't believe my luck, a new group was formed that hugely interested me.  But unfortuantly every meeting has clashed and last night I forego my monthly night with craft friends because I wanted to find out more. So I went to my first NLP Meet-Up.  

NLP?  

For those who don't know it stands for Neurolinguistic Programming.  I have always been interested in alternative therapies and approaches to life. And how the mind works. I was a child of the 60's after all!  But I am not talking drug induced ways. NO! I have always prefered to use my own resources. Learn ways of making the most of what I have! And so I bought my first book about 15 years ago. I still remember the shelf in the library and the book nudging it's spine towards me.  What could I do but reach out and take a look?!  

Since then I have bought 3 more books. 

Some years ago I briefly joined a group but it was a distance away and with shift work it wasn't practical to keep going. I thought of going on courses and becoming a practitioner. Because NLP is so 'ME'!  Do you believe in mind over matter?  Well I certainly do. Sometimes it isn't what we have to deal with in life but HOW we deal with it. Take a case in point:

Last night I watched tv presenter Piers Morgan interview Warwick Davis. For those who do not know, Warwick Davis has a height deficiency and starred in a leading role in Star Wars. He has made a success out of his small height, huge personality and determination to live life to the full.  And immidiately my mind has jumped to a similar programme I saw this week. Yes, synchronicity is still flowing! This was a documentary about Brett Nielson who was born with no arms due to his mother taking thalidomide during pregnancy. Brett is another man who against all odds has gone on to live a fulfilling and incredible life. He plays the piano (astoundingly well!), cooks meals and uses his feet instead of his hands. I was blown away!  Nothing gets in the way of these two men, dispite the challenges, other peoples attitudes towards 'difference', and the extra effort involved in everything they do. 

“It doesn’t matter what happens to you in your life –
it matters how you deal with it.”
 – Brett Nielsen

I mentioned that I thought of doing training and becoming a NLP practitioner. I strongly believe it would have complimented the work I was doing - but I was ahead of my time. My professional body demanded evidence and proof based on research. I couldn't provide this at the time and I didn't have the time or energy to do my own research. And so I put my books back on the shelf.  Until now. I realise there is nothing in my way now. I don't know if I will train to become a practioner, but I will certainly continue to attend the group and learn and use what I can. Personally.  Because it is so true! How we deal with things in life is about attitude and how we think. A few weeks ago I was stressed over mundane tasks that I needed to do. I couldn't see beyond the overwhelm, but with an effort I pulled on my own resources.  And what I didn't have I reached out for. You may have already read that post. If not, you can find it here.

I feel as though I have turned a corner and that the universe is listening.  And in the same way, it is important to listen to our own needs. To take time out, step away, or do what feels right. Because once pysically restored and with new mindset, we too can be powerful and amazing with what we can achieve!  Okay, perhaps that's a bit extreme, but you know what I mean! But positive thinking goes a long way!

I keep talking about synchronicity. It has happened again. Yesterday I read a new blog post on 'Do What You Love'.  It connects so much with what I have been saying over the past week. 

Funny that. 

Or perhaps not. 

Perhaps the universe knows I am ready for change and these are gentle reminders to keep going. And I am.

Thank you for popping by.  I have  so much enjoyed reading your comments and been blown away by how much time and thought has gone into writing these. I'll be back tomorrow with another post as part of my 30 Day Blogging Challenge. Small steps. That's what counts.