Creativity burnout and avoiding it

PEOPLE who have relied on their own brand of creativity to sustain a living (or some passionate hobby) know how terrible it feels to suddenly wake up someday and feel that “it”—creativity or inspiration, whatever one wishes to label it—is absent.

Generally in most fields of the arts, creativity is not only much sought after by the audience. It is also that fuel that sparks an artist’s reckless mind to a mad dash into creating something new. But most of all, creativity defines the artist and his works. The last thing a person who has spent his entire life trying to stand out wants is to fit in into a mold of what is expected of him.

Check out what some people had to say about what they think kills creativity for an artist.

According to distinguished songwriter and writer of an upcoming musical , Jude Gitamondoc thinks it’s simply mental clutter. “For instance, the bills you have to pay, the errands you have to do—even a lot of times, Facebook,” he said.

“But a simple change of perception can get you back on track. If you’re riddled with bills, you can write a song about growing up. If you have errands to do, try humming a tune while riding a jeepney. And if you’re a Facebook addict, try writing a musical about it,” playfully adds Jude. To his credit, he did was able to turn his struggle with social media into something creative, a full musical.

“For the people who are engaged in the creative endeavor, the lack of foresight, the failure to know oneself and the absence of the sense of purpose in life, are often the causes of a creative drought,” shared highly acclaimed painter/visual artist Celso Duazo Pepito.

“If an artist knows his creative direction, not even the lack of support from the government or the absence of recognition from the public can deter him from creating more beautiful art.”

Celso enumerates more about his personal formula of staying creatively on-target.

Other than that, he shared about what keeps him going on. “One thing I have always considered as my accomplishment as a painter is the privilege to be appreciated in what I have propagated as a painter: loving God, caring for my country and aspirations for a stronger family.”

There are many other things that may be specific for some people, which they would consider would kill their creativity. But whatever the case, there’s always a way out of the rut. The greatest of artists take the challenge head on. Here’s a funny quote from Albert Einstein (although the quote is disputed until today if it really belongs to the scientist). This here’s a peek into what one of the most brilliant minds of this world had to say about creativity.

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”

Doesn’t seem too brilliant of a suggestion, is it? But then the man has his accomplishments anyway to disprove any doubt of him not being in his right mind—a creative man in his own right.

What this says is that perhaps for artists, creativity never dies. If it is one’s innate talent, then creativity is simply not giving up. The absence of inspiration only opens other avenues worth exploring, leading one to a better end through a different route.