Love Yourself Thru the Blocks

[dc]I[/dc]t’s 7 PM on Sunday evening and I’ve missed my commitment to have my weekly post done and gone by 10 AM. Sure, the holiday weekend took me out of my routine. That would be a handy excuse, but the truth is I’ve felt creatively blocked.

I found myself doing all the things I hear my clients say. I sat, staring at the blank screen on my computer, hoping something would magically pour out of my fingers. I got caught up in the turmoil of needing to write something earth-shattering and profound and that would be the perfect message for you today.

For a couple of hours this morning, I did my best to squeeze anything out, and it felt like I was trying to give birth to a 15-pound baby who was nowhere close to being ready to greet the world.

Because I spend most of my weekdays at my computer, little Kerri can get a bit bitchy if I ask her to work on the weekends, too. This is precisely why my regular deadline for my newsletter is Thursdays. So she had a bit of a tantrum today and put up a roadblock to any creative ju ju.

Then I had a thought — why don’t I try the suggestions I give to my clients day in and day out? Duh, Kerri. Yeah, we so teach what we need to learn.

So I walked away from the computer and occupied my mind and energy elsewhere. I picked up the house a bit, did some laundry, lit a fire in the fireplace, and watched a half hour of bad television. Every now and then my mind would wander back to the fear of “What will I write about?!” so I, as I often say to others, reminded that sweet, little girl inside that it was all good; that she doesn’t have to worry about it; that this is mine to tend to and tend to it I will.

As I went about my day, I would gently put my hand on my heart — my way of letting her know I’m right there with her and that I love and adore her even when we’re not “producing”. I could instantly feel her calm down.

I felt ready to give it another go, and as I sat down tonight, the old, fearful thought came back. “Oh no, I’ve got nothing to say!” Then it hit me. Maybe that’s exactly the message that needs to go out today — How to love yourself through the blocks.

Isn’t it so easy to give this kind of advice to those we love, yet so hard to remember to take it ourselves?

If you’re struggling with your own blocks, consider these tips to help:

1. Step away from the project you’re struggling to complete. Doing so will help to clear your mind, shift your energy, and let your little one know that it’s all good in the ‘hood.
2. Pomodoro to the rescue! When returning to the project, use the Pomodoro Technique to really get things going. This is a time management system that works even for me, and I’m not easy to corral! It’s as simple as setting a timer for 25 minutes, working on the task, and taking a 5-minute break when the timer goes off. That’s considered one “round”. Then, wash, rinse, repeat! Be sure to leave the project during your break. That’s a significant part of the magic of the technique. For a great accompanying tool, check out the Pomodoro Helper. This is a free website where you can list your tasks and, as you work on one, click the “play” symbol next to it and a timer automatically launches on your computer. After the round, you’re asked if you want a short break or a long break. Click “short break” and a 5-minute timer begins. After you’ve done four rounds, choose “long break”, which is 30 minutes. It’s magic, I tell ya!
3. Love up your kiddo. This is such an important step in loving yourself through the blocks, and I think many people either don’t think of it or dismiss it. When your resistance is really up and strong, your little one is trying desperately to get your attention. Chances are you’ve had a bit too much “nose to the grindstone” time and not enough play time. Sure, you might think the last thing you have time for is play, but trust me when I tell you, that’s precisely when you need it most.

OK, you’re up — where do you struggle with resistance? Blocks? How do you navigate them? What tips work for you? Where could you use some support? Please join the conversation in the comments section below.