A student lamented to me “I’m not very creative, I don’t have any idea of what to do.” Another student feeling rather blah wondered where’s her mojo and admitted she doesn’t feel motivated to create without it.

Do you believe you need to feel inspired or have an idea in order to create?

There’s this notion that we need to feel inspired or have an idea to create. But what if we don’t feel so hot? What if we feel lethargic, blah, depressed, exhausted, sick, or angry? The truth about inspiration, as the old adage goes is it’s 99% perspiration. We need to show up for ourselves and our art. Depending on Mojo or inspiration to pull us along is to put the cart before the horse. The horse is our dedication, our commitment to show up for ourselves regularly — however we feel.

OK. So say you arrive at your designated creative time and you’re just not feeling it, the longer you look at that blank piece of paper the sleepy you get. I invite you to try an experiment if you’re feeling heavy and gray: give your feelings form. Let them speak, engaging with these emotions rather than judging them can lead you to new creative expressions in your work. Most importantly of all, try not to judge your creation or yourself you’re feeling this way. Try to abstain from drawing any conclusions about your worthiness or careative capacity.

Also, be sure to attend to the basics before you write off your creativity: Are you getting enough sleep? How’s your diet? Are you drinking enough water? What about exercise? It takes a body to make art.

In embracing your unique creative journey, it’s essential to recognize that inspiration can feel elusive. Remember this it can emerge from the messy reality of your emotions or physical state. So, when the muse feels elusive, give yourself permission to engage with that feeling rather than fight it. By showing up with patience and kindness, we can unlock the potential that lies within—even on the days that feel gray.

Remember, creativity thrives not just in the highs but also in the lows; it’s all part of the process.