Every once in a while, I have severe moments of apathy and self-doubt. It’s not because I’m in a creative rut or lack ideas. I have plenty of concepts. It’s not creative block. It’s just that, after extended periods of prolific creating, I lose a sense of whether any of the content matters or has value. So, then I wonder if I should create more or what the point is, especially if people haven’t given me feedback. I hesitate to pick anything to work on because of the uncertainty, and I end up doing nothing.
I’ve tried different strategies to get out of the funk. I might go for a walk with the dog or tackle something else around the house.
But what I’ve found is most effective at getting my mojo back is to go back and review what I’ve done. I might reread some of the posts in my social media feeds or watch some videos I’ve made. I might listen to some of my compositions.
This review is not for any specific analysis. I’m not looking for anything in particular. But when I do it, the more content I look at, the more I get a sense that I’m consistent in putting out decent stuff. I can’t even pinpoint what criteria are subconsciously involved in determining it’s decent. But I get a feeling like I did okay, over and over again.
There’s something about reconnecting to this sense of “good enough” over the entire body of my work that’s rejuvenating. It’s like somebody or something is telling me, “Your work on the whole isn’t horrible. So, it’s okay to keep going.” And all of a sudden, I’m reoriented back into “go” mode.
My technique might not work for you. But if you feel a little disoriented about what you’re doing and need to ground yourself in a sense of general competency and talent, it can’t hurt to give it a shot. Let me know in the comments how it turns out.