Clear The Hurdle: Creative Blocks

                                                                  I cannot create with you.

                                                        I cannot feel anything else without you.

                                                            Is this forever my conundrum; you?

To create a block is pretty simple. You take a collection of all reasons too tough to break and let it hinder the highly productive mechanism that you possess. And voila, we have with ourselves a structure created (mostly unwittingly), which is so well engineered to keep your creativity at hold that almost any attack whatsoever cannot bypass it.

Creative blocks act primarily as dams to the flow of the river of consistent creativity. Any sort of artist (not limited to writers alone) is bound to face these dams because writing blocks aren’t the only ones which exist. For sketching, a precise thought is a pre-requisite; for photography, an inspirational moment is essential; for music, a primordial sound recorded.

On encountering these adversaries to your talent, don’t lose faith in your abilities. After all, they serve to test your dedication to the art you pursue. But an important point yet to be realised by many is that not all creative blocks can be overthrown. Acceptance of this condition also plays a key part in dissolving it. But it all depends on how you perceive a block.

Laziness creates the highest number of creative blocks. After all, it is the acute condition of unwillingness to partake in any energy-consuming activity. It is very crucial in generating the procrastinator present within all. Laziness creates blocks that are recurring in nature. But most of you are passionate enough to overcome this minor obstacle. Thus, face blocks of this nature head-on with the pure will to produce something beautiful.

Surrounding environment plays a huge role. Depending on your taste, it’s better to be in a particular kind of work environment where you unleash your creativity without any inhibitions. It doesn’t matter where your comfort place rests, whether it’s a busy beehive or a quiet study, with company or in solitude. If you try in any other areas, you tend to be unsuccessful in your venture because of the many distractions the foreign environment may hold. So stick to your zone.

Existential crisis is a paradoxical nightmare. Upon witnessing a stunning work of art by your peer or inspirational figure, you start questioning your capabilities. And then, to strengthen your conscience, you proceed to create. But your fear of not living up to the standards clouds your thinking. As a result, your fear of your inability to create art directly makes you unable to create art, whereas you believe your fear arises from the fact that you indeed are unable to create art. This complex block can be eradicated only by the strength of your belief in your capabilities as an artist.

Sometimes their nature cannot be explained. After all, it’s just a condition of the mind. The reasons for some might seem inexplicable. For all you know, you are back home, sitting at your study in your peacetime, still yearning to create, with the pages in front of you, all the tools right beside you, and all time needed by you. And again, you cannot produce. We do not yet have a classification for this type of block, but what you need to understand is that you cannot win all the battles. You can refer it to the universe telling you it’s not the right time or a sign from within that you need to catch a break. Either way, this is the case where you take the hint, and accept your momentary fate. You will feel sadness and guilt at your inability to create what you desire. And yet, choose not to despair, and instead tend to other matters. Try different things. Be productive in a different way. Better yet, stop creating and start relaxing. Creating art cannot be pressurised, so the right thing to do is to wait for the opportune moment. Until then, believe in yourself that your decision is for the best.

Always have the notion to keep pushing ahead. It is highly recommended that you try your hardest in creating something new, no matter what. Because the looming heights created by artists cemented in history as connoisseurs of expression were not achieved with ease. It takes an immense amount of time and effort. And yes, their trash cans were also full to the brim with broken instruments and torn pages. After all, creating art comes at the cost of tolerating your own unavoidable, disappointing attempts at making history. But so what if you don’t make it in the books of history at the first go? Stay patient and trudge ahead, so that you can rewrite them.

Written by Sanjay Kumar 

Photographed by Sumeet Kumar and Jyotinder Singh