Overcoming your Creative and Writing Blocks — 10 Journaling Tips

“Who says you’re not an artist ? You are”.

You can’t deny it. It has been proven that we all have a left logical brain and a right creative brain (the only difference is that the second one is not valued by our hyper rational society).

But my main point in this article is something else :

Writing, drawing or coloring improve your wellbeing, as well as your productivity.

Why ?

Because making art reduces stress hormones and increases feel good hormones in your brain, regardless of your artistic abilities.

Let’s dive a little bit into it, shall we ?

It’s common wisdom that relaxed people have an easier time being creative than their stressed out counterparts, but research suggests that the reverse is also true.

Professor Teresa Amabile of Harvard has found that :

• Creative activity is an effective strategy against stress because it requires focus, and prevents one from being preoccupied with stressful thoughts
• When people are feeling most deeply and happily engaged in their work, they’re more likely to be productive

She has also found something interesting about journaling :

Writing in your journal encourages you to reflect on small victories that you may otherwise forget, and provides you a motivational boost, especially when enveloped in a long-term project.

“Mum, I’m not an artist, you are !”

Yes, my mum has always been gifted with many artistic abilities.

And me, I’ve always compared myself to her and thought that I was rather intellectual, so… I had no need to “waste my time” with art.

The reality ? I was scared like crazy to explore my creativity !!!

“Am I allowed to express my feelings ?”

“Can I be myself ? Authentically ?”

“Who am I to make some ART?!”

Yes you’re right, I wasn’t confident enough and used to beat myself up. A lot….

Does this speak to you ?

Don’t worry, I’m about to give you my 5 best tips to “De-Stress and Express your Creativity”, simply with your pen and notebook…

1. First, stop what you’re doing and thinking right now, and scan your body. Feel present, here and now, and feel your breathing.
2. Open your notebook and set your intention : how can you be more creative today ?
3. Try to remember yourself at kindergarten when you were still creative and ask your journal this question : what stopped you from being creative as an adult ? Write every anecdote, memory and block that comes up.
4. Now, choose to relax and to open a new door in your brain, write down everything that you would love to create : drawing, painting, chanting, dancing, cooking, writing…. Write all your ideas down and feel them as you’re creating them now. Open your creative container, unleash your imagination and amplify it with your writing.
5. Now it’s time to take action and to commit with yourself : write down the next art you will do, and just do it ! It doesn’t have to be big or perfect (or even to look pretty), it just has to make you feel good.

“Creativity is experimenting, growing, breaking rules and… and having fun”

Mary Lou Cook, Peace Activist, Artist Minister and Writer.

I also would like to share with you 5 tips from my Mindful Art Teacher, Cynthia Hauk, to use your creativity on a daily basis :

1. Start with “baby steps”. Whether it’s 1 word, 1 doodle, 1 scribble or 1 drawing mark, it doesn’t matter. You’re training your creative muscle that you haven’t used properly for a long time
2. Set up your own creative space, choose the best time for you during the day, use your favorite notebook, pen, art supply….
3. Be compassionate with yourself and nurture your inner critic in your journal : why do you criticise, judge and censor yourself ?
4. Break down your creative ideas into small projects : what is the next one ? Focus on it.
5. Your art is like your fingerprint, it’s unique. So practice and find your own signature….

Need some support to start your creative practice ?

> I invite you to book your free consultation with me if you are ready to see how emotional coaching can help you find your best solutions, which are already there, inside you.

Amandine Mas — Emotions and Writing Coach on https://www.instagram.com/amandine_emotional_freedom

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