One of the most exhilarating and yet at the same time frightening challenges of my job is waking up every Monday morning to a blinking cursor on an empty page. If you write a blog or speak publicly on a regular basis, you know the scenario I’m describing. It’s hard to communicate fresh, challenging material on a daily or weekly basis.
I don’t have the luxury of writing messages, books, or blog posts when I feel inspired or excited to write. I’m always on a deadline. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed this or not, but Sunday comes around with amazing regularity.
That said, I’ve recently had a bit of a breakthrough of sorts. When in a creative communication slump, I’ve often thought of it as a “block.” If you camped outside my office long enough, you would probably hear me yell in desperation, “I’ve got message block!!!”
But that’s not really true.
Anne Lamott said, “The word block suggests that you are constipated or stuck when the truth is that you’re empty.”
“Stuck” suggests that you need to try harder.
“Empty” prompts you to fill up.
Understanding my communication slump as the result of being empty gives me the permission to engage in the activities that fill me up.
Watch a movie.
Take a walk.
Play with the kids.
Call a friend.
Pray.
Read.
Nap.
Laugh.
And this is working a lot better than “trying harder.”
What do you do when you hit a slump?
What fills you up?
