This is a bit of a different post today. I'm sharing something personal. And this isn't necessarily going to resonate with everyone because all have different ways that we address our needs. But if you're at all like me and have a tendency to be avoidant when you want nothing more than to be creative, this is a personal letter to you, because, like you, I hit moments where my art and motivation feel… stuck. I’m learning that when I feel blocked, it’s not a lack of creativity; it’s usually a sign I’m not addressing something deeper.
Stay with me. I'll start off dramatic (for effect):
This is a vulnerable reflection to write because it’s forcing me to show up and assess my vulnerabilities. And I’m sharing it with you before I feel like I’m even ready to. I’m sharing this with you in the middle of the my own resistance to create art.
Here’s the problem I’m facing the lie I’m telling myself (that I’m sure many of us have faced, and will face again):
“I can’t force myself to be creative.”
Ok ok before you call me out, just wait a minute. I acknowledge that sometimes this is true, and that's 100% okay. Sometimes we NEED a break.
But I'm wording it this way for a reason.
I’m calling this a lie is because sometimes, it's actually an excuse to not address the real, underlying issue(s). It feels true, but it’s really just a comfortable way to avoid deeper issues. We tell ourselves we're too busy, or uninspired, or don’t have the time.
These excuses stack up, forming a wall between us and our art. And they’re often hiding the real reasons behind our resistance.
Here’s the thing: the real reasons you’re feeling blocked might not be what you think they are. There are some sneaky, often hidden blocks that hold us back and discovering why addressing your true needs—physical, emotional, and environmental—might just be the key to breaking through your creative resistance. When these needs go unmet, they create “blocks” that make creating feel like a chore. This realization has been both humbling and helpful.
Story time
Right now, I’m running one of my favorite programs (Sketchbook Bootcamp). It’s designed to help others break through creative resistance, and ironically, today I said “I can't do today's prompt” while on a call with a team member, with a laundry list of excuses. Halfway through my list, I caught myself with a hard stop. WAIT A MINUTE…
Don’t get me wrong, my excuses are all real things. I am having difficulties with some personal stuff right now. I do have a lot of to-dos to cross off my list for upcoming work matters. But in this moment, I’m hearing myself list off a lot of “I can’ts”, “I’m not able tos”, but I’m not hearing myself admit WHAT I NEED. And that hurdle is exactly what I’m helping people jump over, which means that:
I don’t have an excuse. Not today.
And here's how I know that - two words: External vulnerabilities
I'm talking about those basic needs and situational factors that, when unmet or disrupted, create this invisible weight holding us back. These are things that might not seem like “real” obstacles, but they add up quickly. They’re these little demands on our physical, emotional, and mental bandwidth that make it harder and harder to show up for our creative work. They can seem deceptively simple on the surface, like lack of sleep, hunger, or physical discomfort, but they deeply influence our state of mind, making even things we love feel burdensome. These external factors play right into that tension between wanting to create and finding yourself blocked.
I’ve given myself moments of pause to determine what my external vulnerabilities are in these moments and I want to share them with you, because what a difference just being aware of them has made in my life, including this very moment.
Essentially, I didn’t have any urgent matters that were getting in the way. These are the items that I assessed to determine that:
1. Physical vulnerabilities
When we’re tired, hungry, or uncomfortable, our brain’s capacity to focus shrinks. Creativity, which relies on free-flowing thinking and openness, demands a kind of energy that can feel impossible to muster when our body is signaling deprivation or discomfort (this could very well be a signal that today isn't the day. And that's okay to admit to yourself).
2. Internalizing responsibilities
Just the idea of “having a lot of to-dos” can be a mental clutter that pulls you out of the present and toward what you “should” be doing instead of what you want to be doing. This creates a kind of disconnect that chips away at the sense of freedom essential for creativity. You may feel a sense of obligation to show up as the ideal, “inspired” version of yourself. But what if I told you that your art needs all of your versions, as the multi-faceted human that you are?
3. Emotional vulnerabilities
A major external vulnerability is emotional noise. It creates a constant background buzz of anxiety. These external pressures drain us, even when we aren’t fully conscious of them. They're like apps running in the background, eating up mental bandwidth, so by the time you sit down to create, you’re already at 60% capacity before you even pick up a paintbrush.
Even acknowledging these feelings briefly can help lift their hold on you. Pssst… the bonus is that art can be wildly therapeutic.
So the question we should be asking is “ how do we navigate these & still show up?” Let me get back to you. I'm pausing to process this very thing.
Okay, I’m back 😜
And here's my takeaway:
Self-awareness is our greatest asset. That moment of realization that I had on my call today—recognizing the ongoing list of excuses, and then stopping in my tracks to understand what was really going on—was actually me tuning into my needs, something that’s so easy to miss.
Realizing what I needed in that moment wasn’t about “forcing” myself to create. It was about stopping to meet my needs first. This small shift was powerful: instead of pressure, I felt freedom. I wasn’t creating to be perfect, but rather to be honest. I found myself more open, more willing to create with joy rather than obligation. My art was messy, imperfect, and real. And I had no idea that’s exactly what I needed right now.
I’ll be honest: It didn’t take away all my responsibilities, my anxieties, or my external pressures, but it gave me a choice. I could either let these things remain as barriers or use my awareness of them as fuel to create from a place of authenticity and groundedness.
The goal isn’t to avoid challenges, it’s to find new ways through them. Creativity and vulnerability are intertwined, even if that means showing up messy and distracted. In the end, facing our vulnerabilities instead of masking them brings a new, refreshing honesty to our work. If you’re finding it hard to create, maybe it’s time to check in with yourself.
I hope you receive this letter as a warm reminder from a fellow creative who gets it, who feels all the things you feel. Creativity might not always come easily, but sometimes, the most powerful art comes from creating while we’re still in the process of figuring it all out.
Let's show up and create, yeah?
