The year is 1965. The artist is a frustrated success. He wants to go a different direction with his work but isn’t sure which way to go. He feels stuck where he’s at, so he flees for the country and tells his boss he aint coming back. He has had enough of the music business. He is giving up. He means it too. While stuck away in his cabin on about day three he is struck by a sudden desire to write. He’s written a boatload of songs and think he wants to try his hand at a novel. He simply lets his pen push it’s way across the page and throw up what’s inside of him.
Out comes another song.
This one, however, felt completely different and this artist knew that in that creative moment, everything had changed. He would say, “I just want to write songs.” And so he did.
You see, this artist found his voice the same way that you’ll find yours. It will begin when you hit the wall and decide to STOP. Every creative process begins when the artist faces their problem and embraces the struggle. Today, as you face whatever creative challenge you’re staring at, remember that feeling like your stuck just might signal that you are a moment or two from an insight arriving. Relax, give up finding the solution and maybe try taking a warm shower. You might want to go for a walk. You could try any of number of things, just make sure they quiet your very busy brain. Who knows, once your brain slows it down, the answer may just decide to show up.
Thank God, Bob Dylan quit trying to write songs. Thank God, Dylan gave up on writing songs that made sense. Thank God he left NYC for a cabin in the woods. Thank God, Dylan stop being a folk singer. Thank God, he decided to write a novel too. And, thank God, as he wrote this “long piece of vommit,” out came the song, Like a Rolling Stone.
Thank God…
BUILT TO LEAD 