Let me take you on a journey of self-discovery. Together, we’ll explore ways to foster a mindset that embraces creativity for life.
Think of me as your personal trainer for getting your creative mojo back on track.
Alrighty then, as any personal trainer worth their fitness tracker wristband will tell you, showing up is the hardest part. You’re inevitably gonna feel stuck from time to time. But the important thing is to keep showing up and to keep trying new things.
Pro Tip 3:
It’s your time to play. You’ve got this!
This is the third post in a 6-part series, and today we’re delving into how to get past your resistance.
And so, our subject is about the truth behind feeling stuck. I’ll share ideas about resistance, genius, and why we end up feeling stuck - all through the lens of creativity and play.
I’m pulling ideas from my Paper Collage Play Time workshop’s ebook. You can find out more about my workshop at this link:
• CLICK HERE to explore Paper Collage Play Time (https://twinkiwinki.com/products/paper-collage-play-time-online-workshop)
Alex Mitchell Sparked By Art VIDEO: Paper Collage Play Time
CLICK HERE to check out my video: https://youtu.be/X7EmwNeK5A8
In my creativity workshops, I love combining playful art-making with powerful mindset ideas. And here’s the thing: I want to give everyone permission to play in the easiest possible way.
Because your creativity matters.
• One insightful moment of creative play can dissolve years of resistance, giving you newfound energy
• The fun you have with your creative side spills over into all parts of your life
• Igniting your creative spark gives you fresh eyes to try new things and make meaningful changes
Here we go!
Part 1. A word about resistance.
First off, let’s define creativity: Your creativity is simply your genius.
And when you’re expressing your genius, you’re sharing your enthusiasm for life. Contrary to what you may believe, being creative isn’t hard.
But resisting your creativity is.
It’s the pushing down of your genius that’s exhausting. It’s the feeling bad and being mean to yourself that eats away at you.
Your resistance drains your energy, keeps you from trying new things, and leaves you feeling stuck in a rut.
If you were to ease up on all the effort it takes to keep yourself down, you’d free up a buttload of energy.
We all have crazy, wild desires deep inside. We long to fulfill our potential, to make a difference, to express what we love. And yet we squash it because we fear:
• Not knowing how it will all work out
• Not knowing if we can handle the success we dream of
• Failing and being rejected
• Disappointing others
All that pushing down turns into an energy-sucking monster called resistance.
So here’s the deal: your creativity is your genius.
But when you try to squash your creativity, it turns into a monster.
Part 2. A word about genius.
When we’re doing what we most love to do, we’re expressing our genius.
We could all be doing the same thing, but every one of us would express our genius in a unique way.
In the end, it doesn’t even matter what you do. No lie,
The only thing that matters is how you show up.
And here comes the fun part. It doesn’t matter what you do, because you’re not actually doing it. You’re letting it happen.
Let your genius flow through you.
This is a process where you’re the creator and the ultimate project is not your career but YOU. As in, you’re both the creator and the creation.
So that means:
• There’s no job that’s wrong for you.
• There’s no career move that’s taken you down the wrong path.
• There’s no missed opportunity holding you back.
Nope, that career path or life project, it’s just a fabulous excuse to let your genius flow through you. Smile.
So if your creativity is your genius, and your genius flows when you allow it, why does it always feel like a struggle?
Why do we hold back, procrastinate, or talk ourselves out of the very things that light us up?
Part 3. Why do we resist what we love?
So much of our energy goes into resisting what we actually want to do.
It’s like relentlessly paddling upstream when all you’ve gotta do is let go of the oars and trust the current.
Resistance is here to stay, so your biggest challenge at the start of any project is simply getting past it.
But take note, it’s never the work itself you’re resisting! It’s your thoughts about the work.
You spiral into thoughts like:
I can’t ever find the time.
I don’t know how to start.
I’m not feeling inspired.
But when you think about actually doing the work, you feel excited:
• You can’t wait to play with new materials.
• You’re eager to pick up where you left off.
• You’re curious to try a new technique.
So you’re not avoiding the work itself. You’re avoiding the discomfort of your thoughts about yourself in relation to it.
It’s all so ridiculous, right? You might plan to write for an hour each day, but then spend hours thinking about the fact that you’re not writing.
You spend more time avoiding what you love than doing it. Why?
Because it’s easier to feel disappointed in yourself than to face the discomfort that comes with your fears.
Your resistance shows up as self-sabotage.
The only thing between you and getting your butt unstuck is your resistance.
Conclusion: Your creative mindset starts here.
Creativity isn’t something you have to chase - it’s already alive within you. It is your
genius.
And when you let go of resisting your genius, you create space for magic to happen. You stop battling yourself and start flowing with life.
Every time you choose play over pressure, curiosity over control, and expression over perfection, you’re moving past resistance.
So when resistance shows up (and it will), take it as proof that something inside you is waking up. Don’t fight it. See it as a sign that your genius is stretching, growing, and asking to be set free.
Feeling stuck isn’t failure. It’s an invitation to play your way back into flow.
Try this:
Notice one area where you feel stuck. Choose a tiny, playful action related to it. Even a small gesture can loosen resistance.
So grab some art supplies and make something silly. Set a timer for five minutes and give yourself total freedom to have a little fun.
Then, write yourself a note:
I give myself permission to make something messy, weird, or just for me.
Tape it somewhere you’ll see it often. Let it remind you that nurturing your creativity is the practice of remembering who you are.
And if you’d like guidance and tools to move through resistance with ease, I’d love to help.
My online creativity courses can help you unblock what’s been holding you back and rediscover your creative flow. Let’s build a creative rhythm that feels alive, sustainable, and joyfully yours. CLICK HERE to explore Paper Collage Play Time: A Guided Mini Workshop For Getting Unblocked And Expressing Your Creativity (https://twinkiwinki.com/products/paper-collage-play-time-online-workshop)
More for you:
If you’re feeling inspired, I’ve got a video where you can color along as I chat about these ideas. I even created a PDF with 8 coloring pages you can download and print for this purpose!
Alex Mitchell Creativity For Life VIDEO: Why Do We Resist What We Love?
CLICK HERE to check out my video: https://youtu.be/6wOvkA5GKUw
Download the Twinki-Winki Coloring Pages
CLICK HERE for the PDF: https://twinkiwinki.com/blogs/twinki-winki-headquarters/give-yourself-a-creativity-reset-6-ways-coloring-mandalas-helps-you-get-your-sparkle-back