I can't say that it is the creative professions that are facing a creative crisis. And in general, what professions can we call NOT creative? People often come up with something, look for new ways, or even create difficulties for themselves.
But sometimes, after a series of exciting events and constant work, they just give up. You sit, look out the window for hours and think, think, think... About everything in the world - about the global conspiracy, the hungry and the poor, about your role in this world. Are you living right? Is that the way you are going? About meaninglessness and meaning...
Why is this happening? I think it's human physics. When the brain strives for something for a very long time, overcoming various obstacles, considering new strategies - and then BOOM and fatigue. Like the muscles of the body. You run and run and then BOOM and fell about weakness.
And then you sit and get mad at yourself. Or lie down. For example, in a hospital. Alone with a serious diagnosis. Because the brain said - ENOUGH! and gave you some kind of disease to stop your run. And you sob, and feel sorry for yourself that you didn’t take care of yourself earlier. You begin to appreciate life anew and send to hell all the ambitions often imposed by society.
And then you live on (if you are lucky) with a calm, measured life. You begin to notice all the little amenities and trifles around. Flowers, fresh air, sunrises and sunsets.
And then - ONCE and again you forget all this. Because the little things get boring and you want something new again. And the race starts again. And then another crisis. And so it can be repeated indefinitely. Unless of course you find a balance 🙂
How to find it? I think it's important to capture the moments - when to stop running and when to start. And trust yourself. Or start to finally trust yourself. At least compare the moments when you wanted to do it this way, but hesitated and did it differently. And that turned out to be wrong. So this must be remembered - to understand that you are always right. That your intuition or whatever it is called does not deceive you. And then these "points" - "stop" and "go" you will feel all of your essence.
How to live in balance? For me it's taking breaks from work. Further, if you are burning strongly, finish everything at once to the end.
No food, no water, no family time. Well, I wanted to do this before and that’s it 🙂 And with the rest, everything began to turn out much more productive. The brain does not work to wear out. You draw a picture, for example, for a week, and this allows you to view it from all angles, give meaning, or even alter or add something. And the result is excellent.
There is, of course, the other side - what is done for months or even years, may never be finished. This will be your button - GO 🙂
There are moments in work or in life, well, which simply do not depend on you. Then the idea that works for me is to just let go. Trust life so to speak🙂 Yes, it can be hard. But still it works for me. Everything is always changing and only after a while we can understand that everything was for the better.
Sometimes I just go to another field of activity if I'm stuck in something. Anything - a cat show, cooking, a course in musical notation. And then new ideas will come by themselves.
The most important thing to understand is that a creative crisis (or perhaps just a crisis) is a temporary phenomenon. It's like starting before a big run or jump. It is very important not to despair and not to panic. Do not listen to people around who say that everything is lost. If possible, do not listen to anyone at all. Sit, meditate, think. And then everything will return to normal on its own.
Finally - I found an interesting poem by Jonathan Reed "The Lost Generation" or "There is Hope". I think it's worth reading in a moment of sadness 🙂 .
The Lost Generation
“I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.
There is Hope
There is hope
It is foolish to presume that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It will be evident that
My peers and I care about this earth
No longer can it be said that
Environmental destruction will be the norm
In the future
I will live in a country of my own making
I do not concede that
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce
Experts tell me
This is a quick fix society
But this will not be true in my era
Families stayed together
Once upon a time
I tell you this
Family
Is more important than
Work
I have my priorities straight because
My employer will know that
They are not the most important thing in my life
So in 30 years I will tell my children
"Money will make me happy"
Is a lie, and
"Happiness comes from within"
I realize this may be a shock, but
I can change the world
And I refuse to believe that
I am part of a lost generation”
