How do you know when you’re in a groove or a rut?
How do you know when to hold, and when to fold?
How do you know if you’re doing your art to feed someone else’s expectations, or your own?
And when you figure it out, what then?
What ruts have you climbed your way out of? Share in the comments how you figured it out, and what you did to change course.
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I often think of a groove as really positive but too much of a good thing eventually ends in a negative. Is it really a negative though? Maybe it is just the end? Maybe we should relax and say “Well done, you’ve come so far.” Saying good bye can be sad but it is life’s ebb and flow moving within us.
I am currently in a bit of a rut. Yes it is not feeling good. I have ideas for some new work. Some very different work to what I have been doing for the last 2 years. I’m really terrified. What I am asking myself is this, ” Is being brave and taking a risk better than languishing in my nice cosy rut?” The rut has been feeling familiar and safe but oh so boring!I think the discomfort of a rut is more about knowing that you’ve got to something differently. It takes energy, time and courage. Embrace it, it is healthy and keeps us fresh. Am I enjoying it No but the fear will fade and the creativity will flow and it’ll become a groove then eventually a rut again. That’s life!
This time I am managing the pain by doing sketchbook work. Something I abandoned years ago, something to do with not having enough time and needing to concentrate on saleable pieces.It’s all a learning curve especially the mistakes, ruts and blocks.
Good luck everyone, deep breath and go forth and create.
Anita
You really hit it on this head, Anita: getting out of a rut means saying goodbye, which can be so hard, and sad…
But it IS part of life’s ebb and flow. It’s necessary to say goodbye sometimes in order to say hello to something else.
I hear you on being terrified as you face new work. I am too, and doing my damnedest to embrace the fear, make those butterflies fly in formation and forge ahead! (Sometimes more successfully than others… )
Keep us posted on your path!
xom
Oh. Melissa. I can certainly relate. As I said over at AE.me, I’ve been working on re-opening my store and building a website. Well, things keep not working out. Being the good pusher-througher that I am, I just keep going. All the while, I have this nagging feeling that I want more, and different. But, I tell myself, I’ve got these paintings, this following, backlinks and quite a bit of traffic for a shop that’s been closed 2+ years. I owe it to my collectors to keep going. But the illustrative work that I’ve “played around” with keeps calling me.
My Dad’s wife has been in the hospital for a couple of months. She was improving, then the decline. She died last night. Today I’m reflecting on my life and what I want and need and have to contribute. I’m in a rut and I keep on shoveling because it’s what I decided to do, what I think I “should” do and to some degree the easiest thing to do. I don’t relish the thought of starting over, but a rut feels too much like a grave.
So, I’m going to stop shoveling, grieve the loss of someone dear to me, and just be for a while. Then, I’ll pick up my sketchpad and see what happens. Right now, I’m going to have a cup of tea and a good cry.
Oh, Reese, my condolences on your dad’s wife! I’m so sorry.
I think your plan to stop shoveling and just be for awhile is a sound one. Plus lots of crying, of course. :}
I’ve had ruts that felt like a grave. It totally sucks. It’s so liberating when you finally break free, but scary as well. Like free-falling.
Good luck as you journey forth. Let me know how things evolve!
xom
OK….not sure where to start and preparing myself for a lot of ‘middle-aged’ ramblings here but here goes.
As I am following my ‘Bliss’ and meeting up with many other people who are envious of me I decided to offer them the opportunity in a co-operative, shop sharing scheme. Their initial enthusiasm was great and everyone was up for it. After many hours of working out costings and planning and looking at how other co-ops worked, all I needed was a final yes from them. The only commitment I needed was that they worked one day in every 3 weeks in the shop…..and there lies the problem. They wanted to be a part of this but didn’t want to give up their studio time to do this. I have my own business and studio too and decided that helping others is a 2 way thing and they have to want to help others too as well as themselves. As a natural encourager and believer in anything is possible (many hands make light work scenario) I found it difficult to let go. But let go I did. I realised that I was doing this for others not for myself and I had nothing to gain. The result would have been that I would have been giving and they would have been taking.
I realised through this that I love to encourage and motivate others. I love the planning stages of anything. I love getting people all fired up….but you know, it’s a 2 way thing and while you are ‘giving’ on your Art Sparks Newsletter, it seems to me, that you get very little back. You also need your soul feeding. When the joy and passion goes out of something, that’s the time to let it go. I know it’s hard, but something else more juicy and buzzing will come along.
I wish I could set up a message board on my website. There are many creatives out there who need the support of others and we have a lot to give.
I’m sure something else, which lights your fire will come along. Something that will be less of a commitment to you.
Whatever you decided, know that you have the love and support of everyone around you.
I really feel the need for a blog post on my http://the-creative-spirit.blogspot.com blog….watch this space sister! lol.
With love and bright blessings,
Sue xxx
There….I said it would be full of middle aged ramblings :o)
Wow, Poppie, what a story!
Hallelujah you for figuring this out!
Also that you love to encourage and motivate (me too), and love the planning stages (ditto).
In tonight’s Creative Ignition Circle the subject came up of aligning feeding your soul with giving to others (ie, an artist aligning business interests with personal interests). What feeds your soul tends to change over time (Bliss evolves!) so the challenge becomes keeping tabs (with frequent gut checks!) on how well your soul is actually being nourished RIGHT NOW.
Much to ruminate on…
Thanks for taking the time to share, Poppie! Your middle aged ramblings are welcome here anytime! 🙂
xom
lol Melissa….I’ll keep that last line in mind :o)
I agree that giving out encouragement, motivation and inspiration is very catching and can also serve to feed our own souls. I’m pondering on the thought that this is directly proportionate to the enthusiasm that comes back to you. Meaning…..if the student shows apathy, it becomes a bit of a chore :o)
I really need to rework that blog I mentioned….like you I have so much to share…..and can I say…..get off my chest here…..but where to begin I haven’t a clue….I feel a song coming on…. “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start, when you begin you begin with ABC……” Rambling again! :o)
Love and bright blessings,
Sue xxx