Having Hashimoto’s, I know first hand what it’s like to experience chronic fatigue and brain fog. I know what it’s like to get up at 8:00 am and feel like I need a nap by 10:00 am. I know how embarrassing it feels to forget my thoughts in the middle of a conversation and not know how to respond to a seemingly simple question. But when our energy runs low, it makes it extremely hard to focus. Our brains need energy just like our organs and muscles do. So when we barely have the energy required to get through the day, we need to have some sympathy for ourselves if we don’t have enough motivation to “flex our creativity muscle.” That’s exactly what this blog is about: Coping with a lack of creative expression.
Sometimes, you simply have to give yourself a rest period. You have to practice patience with yourself and be forgiving of yourself for the fact that you don’t have energy to tap into that creative part of you that’s dying to be expressed. Sad yes, but will you live to create another day? Yes. So, without falling into a dark depression, what can you do? Well, in my personal experience, you can practice the art of surrender. And perhaps even more importantly, you can can practice the art of receiving.
There are many resources on how to do both of these things online, but one specific example of receiving that I have found particularly effective when my autoimmune symptoms flare up, is learning. I can listen to so many sources of knowledge to feed that part of me that appreciates new thought and creativity. Then, when my energy returns I can get back to expressing my own thoughts and ideas.
We must always allow ourselves to receive help from others, from the Universe, and from wherever else help wants to come from. But even before we can open ourselves up to receive, we have to recognize our worthiness to receive. So, backing up a sec, that might be the best place to start: Learn to see yourself as worthy. Learn to feel how good it feels to receive – just by grace alone – not because you did anything to earn it.
Lastly, surrender. Surrender is a practice that says, “God, it’s all you.” Take over. Direct my steps and create a way where there is no way. Your will not my own, etc. Surrendering is the most basic practice we can cultivate regularly in our lives to open up ourselves to the Divine and allow what will be to be… without resistance or fear.
To recap, in order to have energy for creativity, you first must give yourself permission to rest; to not be creative for a while. Second, you have to learn how to receive and allow yourself to do nothing but receive. If this is hard, practice the art of surrender; pray, meditate, or do anything else that helps you release tension and the need to control. Last but not least, have patience with yourself. Tread gently. This may take a year or more before you really recognize that it is OKAY to live in a constant state of receptivity. YOU are WORTHY to receive.
Namaste.