In a creative rut? Be the biggest kid in the room.



A few years ago, I was deep in my burnout. I felt like a zombie walking around, and I was not interested in writing, or doing any form of creating at all.

Months into my sabbatical, I decided to take dance lessons.

I took ballet as a kid and took tap and streetdance in college. I was never good at it, but I always had so much fun doing it.

A dance studio opened up near my area, and I decided to get a 10-class pass. At the time, they didn't have an adult class for beginners.

What did I do? I joined their only beginners class and found myself in a room with three mirrors and a wall surrounded by six and seven year olds.

It was the best decision I made in my life.

Those kids did not care that I was 28 and struggling. They certainly didn't care that they had more rhythm than I did.

I posted videos of myself dancing at these classes too, for all the world to see.

And after multiple classes (among other things I did to recover), I realized that it was embracing a beginner's mind, a child's curiosity and enthusiasm, that helped me feel more like myself.

So if you're feeling like you're in a rut, be the biggest kid in the room.

Find a space where you can be an absolute fool.

And don't tie it to work or anything critical. That's why dance worked for me—it wasn't how I made money and it wasn't my primary creative medium.

Show it to people! Sharing imperfect creative 'work', as it turns out, is great practice for figuring out whose opinions truly matter.

Beginning something new is also great practice for checking in with yourself and being intentional. If there's no money, fame, title, or pride on the line, what are you doing it for? The answer could truly surprise you.