The blank wall has the answer

Dec 27, 2023

A simple but powerful technique to get out of a creative rut.

Sometimes you find yourself in a rut. You feel lost. Mindless scrolling keeps you distracted. You start to disconnect. Your vitality fades away. You feel distant, not sad, dispassionate. Numb.

• I know that feeling
• Let me help you
• Who are you?

A simple solution

Sit down and stare at a blank wall. That's it. You don't need to do anything else. Don't try to control your thoughts or relax.

Initially, you may feel awkward. Allow sensations and emotions to arise on their own. I promise you that if you keep staring at the wall for long enough, the solution will emerge.

At some point, an idea will appear:

• If you roll a pizza does it become a burrito?
• That would make for a cool restaurant
• Thank you!

I'm sure you will have more interesting thoughts. Perhaps a cool project to build or a deep conversation to have. As you start fantasizing about it, one idea will gain traction. Your excitement will start to grow:

• Pepperoni burrito? That sounds orgasmic man... who wouldn't want one?
• Bob opened a restaurant last year, maybe we could team up. He likes pepperoni...

You will start thinking about how cool it would be to do it, anticipating the recognition. At this moment, it's easy to feel the urge to start working on it immediately. Don't rush it; let the itch grow. Reconnect with yourself. Don't let fantasy confuse you; let it inspire you. Eventually, you will feel aligned and ready to take the necessary next steps.

Stand up.

There are many types of walls: some are made of concrete, others of paper. Some are physical, others digital. It doesn't matter how they're built; what matters is creating the space to rediscover yourself.