Creative Paralysis

As with many people, I enter each new year with excitement and QUESTIONS….

  • Will I accomplish my work goals?
  • What new and unexpected things will come my way?
  • Will we travel….or maybe I should say “WHERE” will we travel?
  • Will my creative time flourish?
  • Will “Frances Quilts” grow?

It is always fun to ponder these things and start to make plans.

I have been doing my “real” job long enough to have a fair idea of how things will happen…. complete craziness until April 15th, playing catch-up until July and then some downtime in August thru December.

Michael and I have two trips planned…. Mozambique and South Africa in May/June, and Scotland in October. I am greatly looking forward to both of those.

My guild has our local show in March and it is always a BUSY and fun time!!

Linda and I plan to go to the Houston show again in October

So, that puts much of my “physical” year in place.

BUT….how about my creative year?

Frankly, I am in a FUNK about being creative!! My Mojo seems to be elsewhere and I am struggling with motivation to do ANYTHING!!

According to Google, here are some signs that you might have lost your mojo:

  • Lack of energy
  • Lack of enthusiasm
  • Lack of self-belief
  • Lack of self-confidence
  • Lack of direction
  • Depletion
  • Overwhelm
  • Stress
  • Tiredness
  • Boredom.

YEP….. got all of them!!

At times I don’t enjoy writing this daily blog, but in these times, it helps to push me to keep creating. After all, I have to SOMETHING to write about!!

Google also has some suggestions….

  • Accept the ups and downs
  • Set realistic goals
  • Celebrate small wins
  • Reflect on what makes you tick

So, what am I going to do….. just make a start on something…. probably continuing on one of the scrap quilts that I started this summer. That will ensure that I am, at least, touching fabric a little bit every day!!

There is my Cherrywood challenge….

…and I already have an idea, but I need to develop the technique to DO what I want.

Then there is the Mandala challenge from last year….

……and that is high on my priorities, even if it isn’t high on my motivation list.

Since I posted this inspiration…..

…..I have been thinking about inset circles and ovals and even asked ChatGPT to design something….

So there are a few things that might help me regain my mojo.

The biggest deterrent right now is the Holiday Inn Carpet quilt…..

I have planned it….. I have drawn out the full size pattern…… I have even purchased TWO sets of fabrics to make it from…..

BUT I DON’T WANT TO MAKE IT!!!

What should I do?

  • Put it away for another year
  • Plunge into it anyway and see what happens.
  • Put the fabrics on the shelf and forget the project entirely

So, my question to you readers is……

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME CREATIVE PARALYSIS??

I REALLY want to know!!

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In this blog, I post stories about creativity, techniques, tools of the trade, and lots more about the wonderful art of quilting. If you are enjoying these posts, please subscribe to be notified of each new blog as it becomes available.