7 common “creative knots” we face as artists
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Maybe you’ve heard of the term ‘creative block’ before: that frustrating feeling when we can’t access our creative flow. We feel stagnant, as if there was a thick wall between us and our creative self. Something does feel blocked… but it’s not you.
Dear creative mind, you are not “blocked”: there are knots in your creative process… and they can be untangled. Often, we get on the other side of that sticky feeling by using softness, not force. The idea of a block for me implies the notion of using force to destroy it or get unstuck from something rigid. Seeing it as a knot instead can help us remember that when the stagnation happens, we can choose to slow down, focus and uncover the root cause… and when we do, we can gently pull on the thread until it untangles itself.
uncovering 7 common creative knots:
Let’s identify some common creative knots to help you uncover what might be holding you back from making progress on your creative journey. This is not the ultimate list of challenges on the creative pat and I’d be curious to hear which ones resonate with you the most. ;)
(If you currently experience stagnation on the creative path and would love some support around identifying and shifting the stories and patterns that keep you feeling stuck, I’d love to offer guidance through a private coaching session.)
1. Indecisiveness
Often, clients come to our session feeling blocked, before realizing that in fact they’re simply struggling to make a decision. They’re in limbo. They’re either scared of making the wrong decision, they might not trust themselves with the positive or negative potential consequences of that decision, or maybe they don’t have enough clarity on their identity to make a decision that feels truly aligned. Either way, they go back and forth on a question and they never really make up their mind. Why? Because this space might feel safer than taking action. It feels safer to keep asking questions rather than committing to an answer.
A question to ask yourself right now… are you avoiding making a decision right now? Could this be creating this feeling of stuckness?
2. Perfectionism
We face that creative knot when we hold rigid standards for ourselves that we cannot meet because they’re either vague or impossible. We’re stuck in a loop of never “doing or being enough”… which is terrible for our self esteem. We can’t find the courage or the motivation to start something new or take risks, because we struggle to deal with the pressure of never being enough. “If I’m not going to be the best at it, master this new technique in a month or be as good with this as I am with this other thing I’m great at, then why even bother?” We put so much pressure on ourselves to achieve a certain standard (and with ease) that eventually our body and heart can already feel the pressure coming: we don’t bother starting anything anymore. Perfectionism is a protective mechanism that we use because we think it will shelter us from shame or rejection or failure. We believe “If I can achieve this level of excellence, I won’t be judged or rejected”, I won’t have to deal with the shame. That is not true.
A question to ask yourself right now… What do I expect of myself for the project I’m working on, or my business this year? Is there space for joy here?
3. procrastination
Perfectionism and procrastination come hand in hand: procrastination is often a symptom of perfectionism. When we’re afraid that we won’t meet our impossible standards, we tend to avoid starting or completing the task at hand. Often, that looks like doing anything but the task we’re afraid of. That task is often the most important one: that’s what will move things forward or help us get closer to something that’s meaningful to us (and it might be scary or unknown). Instead of getting it done, we get busy with a million other things that don’t really matter as much because they’re easier and they’re not threatening our self esteem. The thing a lot of us tend to do when we experience procrastination is try to find a time management system… which for me is also some kind of procrastination strategy and also a symptom of perfectionism. We can get lost in an endless loop of research and testing… to find the right system. Dear creative mind, even with the best system in the world, if perfectionism and procrastination are not addressed on an emotional level, this system won’t do much for you.
A question to ask yourself… Am I truly too busy, or am I busy avoiding what I really need to do?
4. People-pleasing
We put other people’s needs before our own and we struggle to say no. We may also seek external validation and mold ourselves into what other people expect from us (or what we think they expect from us). We may also struggle with setting or holding any boundaries. And we end up feeling stuck in that self-betrayal pattern until we get frustrated or even confused about who we even are and what we truly want. We’re so used to giving, giving, giving, that we lose our essence along the way.
A question for you is… Do I know where my boundaries are? And do I respect them?
5. Imposter syndrome
We may doubt our abilities or believe we’re not good enough yet. We may also feel like we don’t have enough knowledge or the right certification. And then, we end up feeling like a fraud: people won’t take my art seriously. Often, we end up working too much to compensate for the lack we perceive. We get lost in research or we overgive… Feeling like an imposter can stem from that feeling of not being enough that comes with perfectionism, and it can also become why we procrastinate, or why we people-lease.
A question for you is… How do you not want to be perceived? How does it affect your creative growth?
6. our free-spirited nature
I’m obviously not saying there is something is wrong with you. Nothing is wrong with you. The previous knots I shared are mostly protective patterns, and this one has to do with our very nature. It can make us more prone to certain knots. For example, if we’re attached to being free spirited, it may make it challenging to stick to a structure. If we see ourselves as a rebel, we might also end up rebelling against the habits or systems we try to put in place. Our very own imagination can also create knots— it makes us creative, but it can also make us imagine end of the world scenarios. Our sensitivity is essential to perceive the subtleties of this world and use it in our art, but it can also contribute to feeling drained around people or sounds or struggle with depression or anxiety.
A question for you is…How can I use my creative mind to my advantage?
7. social conditioning + artist myths
There are many stories and myths that we learned about being an artist. Some of the social conditioning that can create knots on our path can be around hustle culture and the glorification of being busy. It can also be tied to the image society promotes around what success is. It can also be this idea of instant gratification— we tend to believe that we’re supposed to get immediate success with something and that if we don’t, we should just throw it away and start again. In terms of myths around being an artist, there’s the famous “starving artist syndrome” (ie: artist cannot make money or it’s a risky path), the “struggling artist” (ie: artists need to go through constant pain to create), the “loner artist” (ie: it’s a lonely path), or even being messy and unorganized. These stories affect our identity. If we identify as artists and part of us believe those stories… we’ll act accordingly.
A question for you: What story do you believe about being an artist? How does it affect your ability to thrive?
I would also love to hear from you… Which of these knots have you experienced before? Where do you feel it comes from? And what is the consequence of staying committed to these stories Because they really are just… stories.
FREE CREATIVE COMPANION
MUSED
Design a self-led creative retreat that will help you reconnect with the artist within, clarify your creative vision and find gentle structure to stay creatively consistent. Support yourself in building your own creative playground— an inspiring sanctuary for your artistic explorations, and find solutions to get unstuck when the creative process gets a bit messy.
the creative playground
the creative playground
The Creative Playground
Join an intimate group of kindred spirits for a Full Moon creative gathering. We’ll unplug from the external noise and reconnect with the artist within. Bring your cup of tea or glass of wine, brushes, pencils, yarn, journal, guitar, microphone... and an open mind to experiment and play.
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