Feeling Stuck? Try This Mindset Shift for Creativity and Growth
I've been doing a sketchbook challenge with an artist friend, Natalie (you can check out her work here) where we both paint something based on a shared prompt.
She’s the one who made me feel comfortable creating art (It may not be considered "art" in a traditional sense, but isn’t everything an art?) When I first started painting, I’d say, “I’m not good at painting; I’m just good at copying.” I struggled to create something of my own. Then, she introduced me to her art journaling practice, and something about the word “journal” clicked. Just like my morning pages practice, I began to see painting as a stream of consciousness rather than focusing on the final outcome.
Fast forward to now—I can observe myself through art journaling in ways that don’t always surface through words.
Back to the sketchbook challenge. After finishing one of my sketches, I shared it with Natalie, saying how much I loved how it turned out. The colors made me feel happy, and the way everything came together gave me a sense of calm. But a few hours later, I felt like something was missing. At the same time, I knew that if I tried adding anything, I might lose what I already had—and I couldn’t even pinpoint what exactly was missing.
That’s the beauty of abstract art—it becomes a mirror of your life, reflecting your own thinking back at you. I was happy with what I had, yet I felt something was incomplete. I wanted to “improve” it, but I was also afraid of “losing” what I had. So, I shared my dilemma with her.
She told me this was a classic artist’s challenge. “You can’t edit yourself while creating”, she said. She went on to mention that creating and decision-making are two different modes. If you feel it’s incomplete, just play with it. Experimenting and not being attached to outcomes is how so many great pieces have been created.
So, I played. I let go of the fear and added to my piece.
Was it “perfect”? No.
Did I regret making those changes? Not at all.
As I reflected on this experience, two things stood out (both for art and life):
1️⃣ Separating creation and decision-making. I hadn’t noticed it before, but if I edit myself while creating, I can never fully enter a state of flow. At the same time, there are moments when rational thinking is necessary, and that’s when the logical part of my brain should take the lead. Everything is part science, part art—and knowing when to use which part makes all the difference.
2️⃣ The art of playing. The word play carries a sense of lightness that try doesn’t. Words like play and experiment allow for failure because the goal is exploration. On the other hand, trying has an element of striving, of needing to achieve something. The way we frame our actions shapes how attached we become to the outcome and with what energy we engage in the process.
Since then, my daily journal begins with one question: What am I going to play with today?
🤔 For you—where in your life would you like to play rather than try?
And if any thoughts about this process or the 2 sketches come up for you, I’d love to hear them too!
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