How the inability to express myself through writing left my soul feeling rather backed up.

Full of marbles — it’s the best way I can describe how my head has felt lately. My fingers have rested time and time again on the keyboard of my laptop only to find themselves uninspired, mute.

Facing a difficult season of life, I’ve been emotionally drained, searching for comfort and peace from my Creator. Deep breaths hitch when I inhale.

I have so much to write about and yet I can’t seem to get it out.

The most I’ve managed these past few months are a handful of half-finished stories, and as many journal entries as I could wring out. It’s not enough.

So much is happening inside of my head and it feels like I must write it down. But the moment I sit at my laptop and try, all the words disappear. I’m left speechless, thoughtless, dumb.

Like a part of me is dying, and it feels so painful.

It aches to hold all the words, ideas, and moments inside. The inability to adequately express them feels unnatural like creative constipation.

I wondered if it would ever end.

Last night creativity sparked. A feeling I hadn’t felt in so long.

My hands urged me to pick up a brush pen and let words tumble out of my head, through my fingers, and onto the paper with swirls of black and coral until my joints ached.

I awoke the following morning inspired to create again. Once more, I sat at my desk, pulled out a piece of paper and my brush pen. Freedom flowed with each stroke twisting and turning as my nimble fingers formed the letters.

The creative spark has once again been fanned inside my soul and I’m hopeful it will spread like wildfire to my writing.

My encouragement to creatives in a time of constraint:

• It’s okay to wait it out. Be patient.
• Whether its movies, plays, music, or museums, surround yourself with ultra-creative works to encourage the creative flow inside you.
• Keep a journal and speak to a counselor. Dealing with issues and writing about what is going on in your life could be the key to unlocking your creative flow.
• Pray. God is the most creative of us all, and He designed us to create. He is blessed by our artistic expressions!

If you’re struggling with a constipated creative flow, take heart, it won’t last forever.