Cali Gold - Art (c) Rob Schwager
“…the most influential people who have ever walked among us…have been aligned first with their spiritual nature and only then with their physical selves.” Albert Einstein
Every morning before I roll out of bed, I reach for my iphone. Still snuggling underneath my goose-down comforter, I’ll scroll for articles on blogs that get my writers’ blood running, like www.writetodone.com.
But today, this e-mail from artist Rob Schwager is what got me leaping out of bed and fired up to get typing on the laptop:
“Hey Maria, have you come across anything good on “getting motivated” ? I’m working 2 full-time jobs. My reasons for being motivated are being able to pay my mortgage and taking care of my wife and 3 kids.
On those rare occasions when I DO have a break, and I AM able to take some time for myself and “do my own art” my motivation levels are usually at an all time low. I’m feeling more and more like a production machine and less and less like an artist every day.”
The answer hit me immediately. It came from my gut, or from the universe, or from deep in the crevices of my little brain from something that I read somewhere once. Here is the simple and true answer:
Relieve the pressure from yourself and allow some time off from your art.
This advice contradicts my previous rants on creating every day. But there are exceptions to every rule. If you are feeling burnt out, your spirit needs a re-hauling, a little rest, and a lot less pressure.
When too many things are pulling you in different directions, your body and spirit breaks down.
I know, this “taking time off” goes against what your mind is telling you what you should do, because you are an artist. It’s in you to create, to paint, to make things. But humans can only focus effectively on so many things at a time.
Just roll with me on this idea for a minute.
I’m not saying that you should put the brush down for good or for long. Just give yourself a short little break, maybe for a month or two or six.
When we are worn out and overextended, the stuff that makes us creative, that inner fire-breathing energy dragon, becomes sick and weak, and it needs to be restored.
To revitalize your energy dragon from within, you need chunks of time doing what makes you feel healthy, joyful, connected to nature and All-That-Is. For some, that means hiking, surfing or taking a walk through the jungles of Manhattan. For others, it’s meditation and reflection or playing baseball.
What I’m really suggesting here is that you TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF YOURSELF. We are not in a race, though for some reason we all behave like we are. (I’m guilty of it.)
When you remove the mental requirements you give yourself, your spirit breathes a little easier. And that in itself is healing to your creative genius.
And sometimes, igniting your inner fire first requires taking a break from your creative side and allowing the steam to build up, like a pressure cooker. Let it ferment for some time and allow the energy to build, until it just screams for escape.
Then one morning, after your creative rest, you’ll wake up and you’ll be overtaken with an insatiable desire to paint!
Like a madman-genius, you’ll have a clear image in your mind, one that is begging to be pulled out and stretched like a roll of salt-water taffy and refined and made into a tangible form. It will be a joyful process. You’ll give birth to something that energizes you, and it will remind you of why you love being an artist, and you will feel grateful that you still have it, and the energy will be running through you like a powerful force of electricity.
And then it will dawn on you: you don’t have to try to get motivated. Your motivation, organically grown, has come about naturally, through your rested spirit.
You’ll look around and see that everything is exactly as it should be. You’ll hear the birds singing outside your window, and all will be right in the world.
Maria xxoo
PS: To my readers, are you feeling a little unmotivated or overextended? How have you dealt with this for yourself? Please, share your thoughts in the comments!
Completely true and I’ve let go of the “guilt” associated with not creating when necessary.
I’ve realized the quality of my work suffers if I try and force the process. Now, if I’m feeling sluggish I walk away and take as much time as I feel is needed—the creative fire always gets reignited and I’m ready to make new pieces with the quality I desire!
My goal is to work 6 weeks in the studio–whether that’s 8 or 14hrs. each day, then take 2 weeks to do whatever I want. This seems like a good trade off!
Kyle, I love the schedule you put yourself on. I think that’s a great approach – I might want to try something like that myself.
Good Morning Maria! This article is a pretty good example on tapping into our natural creative state when there seems to be a lack of it. Creativity in itself is not something you can just conjure-up at will. It seems to me that by allowing a state of being in the present moment without thought to take root does the true essence of inspiration and creativity come into form. In other words returning to that which is without form…the universal source of “Being”. Creativity at it’s origin is formless and more or less an expressive state that manifests through our actions. Too much over thinking will only cause frustration and ultimately lead to a “down period”. Best cure is to just be and allow it to flow on it’s own…it will come, just don’t force it!
Wow, Al, I couldn’t have said it better! You’re right!
Breaking out of your normal routine can sometimes help creativity and motivation. Trying something new. Maybe my shortboard isn’t doing it for me so I’ll jump on my fish or longboard and the “fun factor” returns. I think it’s the same for art. If you’re used to painting all the time try sculpture or a new technique or colaborate with another artist. One of my favorite things to do is sit with my 3 and 7 year old and color with crayons. Don’t be afraid to go against the grain and try something different…you just might learn something about yourself.
Hey Brian, funny you should mention surfing. When I was writing this article, I was thinking about the years that I used to surf every day, and over time I saw no improvement in my surfing. When I finally took a month break from it (because I got sick and had to), when I went back to it, I enjoyed it more and was surfing better than ever.
Also, with surfing, when you go to a different surf break, you’ll get that renewed “fun factor” that you’re talking about.
I think it’s the same principle!
Thank you for this article, Maria! I have a serious problem with guilt. I have a day job and am always trying to make time for my art. I usually feel guilty if I don’t create for even a few days, but I’ve noticed lately that while I’m creating I’m starting to not feel the love for it. I have to try to remember that it’s okay to take breaks. It will be worth it for the quality of my art.
Hey Gwyn, thanks for your comment. I agree – we all feel that guilt that says “shouldn’t you be doing something right now?!”
PS: Love your mosaics!
Hi María! Great post! And it comes at a great time too. I’m closing my music studio this month to help save some money for our baby coming in April. I don’t want to take a break, but it’s about time. A good 6 months’ rest from music in the studio might end up being a good thing anyway. I pay the bills with my art and design, not with music. At least not yet. 😉 Cheers, Danny
Wow Danny, you have set your priorities right! Congrats on becoming a father. It’s so wonderful! Taking a break right now is a good choice for you. After all, you probably won’t sleep for the next year! LOL!
A great quote I stumbled upon one day…
“Artists don’t get down to work until the pain of working is exceeded by the pain of not working.”
Patrick, thanks for the quote. I think there is a hell of a lot of truth to it!
Haha! Thanks María. This is my second (and last) BTW. I’m hoping it will be just like with my son. He was sleeping the entire night within 2 weeks of being born! A true blessing.
My art teacher had a saying, “Learn to see, See to learn, and then see beyond.”
Aside from the sometimes importance of refrence and learning to remember thing in everyday life. I think it applies here as well.
To get my brain in the mood, I look up some art and that always puts me in the mood
Hey there, Maria:
This is a great post. It’s clear you take the time to think things through. You cut to the chase and get right down to the heart of the matter.
It really saddens me, sometimes, when some people complain about not feeling motivated, exhaustion, having to work long hours just to pay the bills, and so on. What a waste of human potential to live with such stress and tension, day after day, and year after year.
After a while, you feel like a machine or robot instead of a human being. I think it is important to remember that we are human beings and not human doings. That’s an important distinction.
That’s why Mahatma Gandhi said, “There is more to life than speed.”
Maria, your suggestions are brilliant: time-out is key. Take frequent breaks during the course of your day even if you have to work like a maniac. Let’s call such breaks mini-breaks. If you feel blue, step outside to feel the sweet caress of the gentle sun on your skin. A healthy dose of our natural world is an antidote to the rat race.
And, above all, spend lots of time alone. Learn to just be with your own self. Enjoy your own company. Be your own best friend and love your own self. Go on a journey of self-discovery: know thyself.
Thanks for the comment. You have some great insights. Yes, spending time alone really does help to discover new things about yourself.