Creatively Stuck? I’ve Got Something For You.

Self-doubt... we all know that feeling, right?

That nagging voice that whispers (or scolds) that we're not good enough, especially when we're trying to create something. Sometimes, it can be so loud, it makes us want to give up on our ideas altogether.

Sigmund Freud would term this inner voice that judges us in this way the superego, a sort of internalized parental voice.

But here's the thing: creativity is natural. Some parts of our brains are constantly alive and creative, a nonverbal stream of images and symbols dancing in the background.

These become more obvious when we enter flow states and create and when we go to sleep and dream. To silence that inner doubter, we must find our flow.

Recently, my wife Rachael and I (pictured below) felt quite cooped up.

As many of you know, we’ve been dedicating time to launching our business, The Poetry Vessel, making vibrant YouTube videos about the craft of poetry and poetic video essays, and interviewing poets, musicians, therapists, neuroscientists, and others for The Poetry Vessel Podcast.

Through The Poetry Vessel, we are bringing poetry beyond the page. Our multidisciplinary and inviting approach has opened many doors to the art of poetry and freshened people’s relationship with it.

We’ve found ways to melt the frozen hearts of skeptics and helped foster the natural curiosity of those who want to learn more about poetry but are unsure where to start.

Occasionally, we choose to make videos with a more complex scope.

Recently, in our 18-minute video, “Create Anyway: It’s You against Yourself,” we have made a rallying call to creatives: crack through your self-imposed limitations. It’s you vs. you, after all.

How?

One way is to create without worrying about how it will be received. Another way is to go outside and commune with nature, which is what we decided to do.

In this video, we start with a cinematic intro about needing to get outside and do something, and our shared creative desire to make a film and a poem about a canyon hike.

We speak candidly to the camera about how to foster a phenomenological relationship with the world that can help us create art that honors this relationship.

Rachael did such a fantastic job with the video that I can hardly put it into words. Her talents in weaving it into a narrative matched its scope of ambition.

We even had a lesson when we got to the vista — you cannot control everything.

You see, I had big plans of taking my notes I had gathered along our hike and turning them into a new poem when I reached the top of the canyon plateau. Instead, three cop patrol cars showed up out of nowhere, looking for someone who “may have set themselves on fire.”

Needless to say, that wasn’t us. The cops descended the mountain after a while of (probably) acting like they were doing more than they were, wanting to soak up the rays and take in the views.

Fortunately, it turned out everything was okay. But in the heat of the sun, I had lost my original “creative mojo.”

Despite these interruptions, we went home, and I started to write the poem, The Canyon Song. With some editing help from friends, including the Fourth Poet Laureate of Malibu, Dr. Ann Buxie, and the short-story writer, aspiring novelist, poet, and philosophy whizz, DeForeest Wright, Rachael and I sat together making final cuts and changes to suit the vision of the poem.

"Gorgeous poem at the end. Thank you so much Nathan. And as ever, Rachael edited this video so beautifully." - Viewer

“The Canyon Song was naturally brilliant!” - Viewer.

The poem's result is in the video. It features panoramic vistas, music, and sound effects, and it provides a beautiful perspective of the canyon ‘singing’ to humanity.

This video is a powerful reminder for us, a way to articulate the internal struggle many creatives face. We hope it resonates with you on a similar level.

If you’re interested in watching the video, tap the button below.

This is me lying on a blanket, living out the motto: “Create Anyway” as the police surveyed the area.

The more poetic we make the world, the better place it will be. One step is getting over self-doubt, and the other is learning craft. We always strive to provide a platform for both.

If the video resonates, please write a comment directly on YouTube—it helps foster discussion and our growth.

If you think you know someone who needs to hear a message about overcoming a block, we encourage you to share it with them.

Lastly, remember that your creativity is unique and valuable. Don't let anyone, including that inner critic, tell you otherwise.