Creative flow leads you towards inspiration through feeling and intuition, but when the mind parks you at the same pit-stop for a while, you may actually be stuck in a creativity tourist-trap.
The place looks great and feels fun, but is actually serving as a distraction. The scenery and activities, while familiar in a comforting way, aren’t motivating or inspiring you to actually do anything that feeds or expands your creative fire.
And yes, a pause is just as important for creativity as action, but there comes a time when the guitar in your living room is more of a decoration than an instrument. Despite mental protests and grand plans, you never quite get around to playing or selling it.
This is a prime example of getting stuck in a creativity tourist trap.
The Signs of a Perpetual Creative Vacation
Creativity tourist traps are definitely a natural part of creative flow. They offer you a break from pushing or trying to think your way into a more creative space. It’s also a way to experience a lighter, more playful side of yourself as you wander and daydream about what draws your interest or play with what’s possible.
Yet, if you really pay attention, you notice certain daydreams never change or move forward. You escape life to connect with the same scenery, types of accomplishments or outcome, but nothing in the real world is happening to get you closer to using your creative talents regularly and help those daydreams come to life.
This means one of two things:
The creativity tourist trap keeps you distracted enough that you feel as if you are indulging your creative side, but keeps you from having to experience the fear of moving towards it. So you hang out there as a tourist most of the time instead of taking a real world action step. The dream is safer, right?
The alternative – you simply don’t want what your mind is drooling over as much as you think you do – but you aren’t clear on what your “ creative something” might be.
If you’re really honest with yourself, you know which of these two options feels like the truth.
Fear, Desire and Discovering How you Really Want to Experience your Creative Gifts
If fear is your hook, the best way to move past it is to get clear on exactly what your fears are and pay attention to when they show up. Catching fear in the act helps you find ways to greet it and take steps to move past it. This is definitely a step by step process (and often a bit of back and forth), but feels so rewarding when you break free faster and faster each time.
However, if your deep desires are still a bit fuzzy, start by getting clear about what no longer serves you or feels like dead weight when you engage with it. Then, be willing to stop putting thought or effort into those things, including your creativity tourist trap.
The lure of comfort foods, exotic vacations and carefree time in your daydreams can be compelling, but it’s nothing compared to the rush and connection you feel when you finally move past what feels “OK” into the truth of your passion. Then you are able to move towards doing those “daydream” things in real life.
It’s important to remember your creative gifts don’t have to be source of income, unless you want to share them in that way. The true creative path leads you to discover deep desires and what that brings you joy, happiness and a sense of freedom in a natural, non-linear way – not a mentally planned one. There is no bigger meaning for your creative path other than to discover and express your true self, unless you choose place one on it.
Along the way expect to change your mind a lot, try lots of things, and continue to learn how call out your own creativity tourist traps. Oh, and don’t forget to open up to discovering what the guitar in the living room can do when you put some pure love and desire into it.
Need a little pick-me-up for your creative spark? Check out my Mini Guide for Connecting with your Inner Guidance and Creative Fire. Looking for a little more support to help get out of a creativity tourist trap? Check out some of the ways I can support you in creating a bit of objective clarity.