![\"Flower](\"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016-08-31_01.jpg\"\n)
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I usually post my blog every Tuesday. But yesterday I was just uninspired.<\/p>\n
I didn’t want to write my blog.<\/p>\n
Whenever I find myself resisting and rebelling, it usually means I\u2019ve neglected some part of myself that wants and needs expression.<\/p>\n
When I\u2019m blocked, I write\u2014by hand\u2014about how I\u2019m feeling. There\u2019s something about putting pen to paper that re-starts the flow for me. (Especially if I’m using a favorite fountain pen, with beautiful teal ink!)<\/p>\n
This morning, I surprised myself: I wrote that I wanted more time for my creativity to gestate.<\/p>\n
Just as a field needs to lie fallow for the soil to be restored, creativity needs that time, too. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the time of year\u2014fall is approaching\u2014but I\u2019m aware of the need to stop doing so much, to let my deeper work develop.<\/p>\n
If the change in light, the cooler nights, or simply your own inner season is telling you to slow down, here are three tips to support yourself while you’re enriching your creativity.<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re in a creative gestation, you need to let go of your expectations of yourself. Life and creativity aren\u2019t about being productive 24\/7. They both require rest and play.<\/p>\n
If you ignore that need, and demand of yourself that you constantly produce\u2014and that it’s always \u201cperfect\u201d\u2014you\u2019re abusing your creativity<\/em>. You\u2019ll burn out, just like soil leeched of nutrients.<\/p>\n Forcing yourself to be productive is fruitless. Let go.<\/p>\n You know what to do; you just have to give yourself the time and space to hear yourself clearly.<\/p>\n Turn off the TV, put away your phone, and unplug the computer. Get outside and take a walk by yourself. Notice things. Stop and look up at the leaves on the trees. Pay attention to the ground beneath your feet. Take in the scents around you. What do you hear?<\/p>\n Journal with no end in mind: just see what flows from your fingertips, and follow your inner wisdom.<\/p>\n Go to a play, a concert, a reading, an exhibition. Read literature. Go to a great, old book store and browse. Sit in a chair and sample a book or two. Read a poem.<\/p>\n Resist the tyranny of a clean house. Regardless of whether dust lies on the table, time is passing. Inspire your spirit first.<\/p>\n Let other kindred spirits, who have tapped into their own wells, help you tap into yours. Replenish your creative soil\u2014and your soul.<\/p>\n And remember\u2014be kind to yourself<\/strong>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I usually post my blog every Tuesday. But yesterday I was just uninspired. I didn’t want to write my blog. Whenever I find myself resisting and rebelling, it usually means I\u2019ve neglected some part of myself that wants and needs expression. When I\u2019m blocked, I write\u2014by hand\u2014about how I\u2019m feeling. There\u2019s something about putting pen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,22,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-creativity","category-inspiration","category-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=517"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":522,"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517\/revisions\/522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juliebaldwin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Listen to Your Whispering Voice<\/h2>\n
3. Seek Out What Inspires You<\/h2>\n