The flow of ideas

Sometimes the ideas come fast and furious. Other times, they are frustratingly absent.

There’s an ebb and flow in creative work. Each state offers its own challenges.

When ideas are plentiful, it can be difficult to choose a single path. Everything is shiny. Everything has potential. We risk becoming overwhelmed with possibility.

On the other hand, an absence of ideas can be challenging too. The blank page has a way of resisting the first mark. It’s easy to feel stuck.

In the anxious lulls, don’t treat creativity like a lazy servant; see it as an infant that needs gentle care. Be patient and encouraging. Delight in tender beginnings.

And when there are too many ideas on the table, recognize that you’re seeing the infinitude of the universe. Remember that we’re always faced with many choices. That’s a beautiful thing. Sometimes you just have to pick one and go. Choosing all paths is not one of the choices.