Searching for Solutions

First, if there’s a solution, what’s the problem?

The problem can be anything that hinders your creativity. Here are a few interference examples:

Interference #1 Worry – Which may cause you to ask, “What if my creation isn’t good enough?” or “What if I’ve just painted myself into the proverbial corner with my work?” Or maybe, you just feel trapped.

Interference #2 Distractions – These include illness (for the purpose of this post, yes, a tickle in the throat counts). Stress at work. A family emergency. Plumbing issues that require excavations, mold remediation, new drywall, and putting everything back the way it was.

Interference #3 “Avoidance, thy name is Procrastination.” I think Shakespeare’s cousin said that. Or maybe it was some author in the middle of writing a fantasy series whose creativity fountain slowed to a trickle midway through book three.

Interference #4 Exhaustion – no explanation necessary.

Obviously, solutions to these problems can be found in books and articles. They abound with suggestions on how best to motivate oneself. But anybody experiencing Interference #4 doesn’t have the energy for all that. What can be done for those of us whose energy is low and guilt is high?

Two words:

Look up.

What better way to illustrate this solution than with a photo essay.

When you get tired of looking up, look around at nature. If you’re lucky, you might find four kittens hiding under a bush, waiting for Mama to come back. Note: she did come back. And moved the kiddies. Not because I couldn’t stop playing paparazzi. A rogue lawn mower sent them on their way.

Looking straight ahead can also offer a few surprises. Like this “diving deer” sign.

So, on days when inspiration eludes you, try the “look up” experiment. You never know what you might see up there. Look around too. Stories are everywhere.

Happy creating!