How to Create Magic when you Feel Stuck
Some days can feel tedious. To escape, you may be tempted to get online and scroll tropical beach vacations or snowy wonderlands. Ah, if only I could transport myself there tomorrow, you wish.
While teleporting to the Bahamas may be out of reach, magic is not.
When I get that closed-in feeling, I have found a reliable (but not foolproof) solution. I clear time on my calendar – a day, an afternoon – and go explore. Generally, I try to go someplace new-to-me (a restaurant, different neighborhood, even an open house) with a very loose plan. I simply follow my curiosity from there. This creative wandering not only re-ignites my aliveness, but my creative projects as well.
For instance, one morning my husband and I decided to visit a new art gallery in Austin. As we were excitedly flitting from painting to sculpture, the art director noticed our interest and invited us to a private gallery opening that evening. Heck yes!
Then my husband Charley followed his curiosity and asked if there was any art hidden away that perhaps we could see? A knowing gleam twinkled in her eye as she led us to a private room where we got to see a powerful, $12,000,0000 original Banksy (a renowned, elusive artist). She went on to tell us the incredible story about how they got it, which included mysterious flights to London, an unmarked warehouse and bumping into Rihanna.
We finished the day at the high energy art opening, followed by drinks where Charley and I discussed our personal creative passions and what had lit up in us that day. We both felt we had entered some sort of alternate, magical universe where we got to play and let loose a different side of ourselves.
Coincidence? Not really. While we can’t guarantee magic every time, I have found a willingness to explore without “results,” plus an open mind and a sense of humor will often lead me to something – even if it’s just a new insight.
The next weekend, we decided to explore again and went on a 3-day trip to Dallas. The temperature hit 106 degrees, so it definitely wasn’t one of those dream trips one fantasizes about. But once again, we committed to following our curiosity and interest rather than spirit crushing thoughts like “it’s too hot to enjoy life.”
Early morning, sitting outside local Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters, curiosity led us to a bulletin board splattered in posters. We were intrigued by one that said “Art Event” and even better, it was happening that afternoon!
Several hours later we found ourselves at an 80-year-old historic church that had fallen into disrepair. We walked through the doors of what looked like a giant lighthouse and discovered that local artists had been commissioned to paint the church pews. The profits from selling them would go towards refurbishing the church and turning it into a community space for Creators.
Fascinated, we perused the pews and both stopped in front of a colorful one with Aztec poetry, cacti and a double-headed serpent. We looked at each other, nodded, and 30 minutes later we were driving home from Dallas with a pew in the bed of my husband’s truck.
It sits in our sunroom now and every time I see it, it reminds me of the magic in following our curiosity, letting wonder guide the day. As Martha Beck says, “Curiosity is the muse alive in us.” And the Muse doesn’t care if she is on a tropical beach or a sweltering Texas church… she just wants to be invited to play.