“Basketball is a game of runs," my siblings would say whenever we were huddled around the TV, watching a game.
Of the 4 of us I was the only one who never played organized sports (trying to remedy this in my adulthood, but that’s for another blog post). So I always lived vicariously through their own experiences in sports and picked their brains whenever I didn’t understand something happening on the court.
After watching my fair share of basketball games with the recent wrap of March Madness (the college basketball tournament), I’m reflecting on the parallels that exist between an athlete’s mindset and a creative’s.
Yes, completely different worlds on the surface, but so much similarity at its core.
The past week and a half-ish has been challenging for me. The positive energy and momentum I felt I had built throughout March felt completely deflated after a series of personal set-backs at the start of this month.
While it felt like I had lost my creative flow, watching the resilience of March Madness teams battling back from seemingly insurmountable deficits reignited my own determination. Just like those athletes, I knew I could recapture my momentum.
Despite the constant adversity athletes face—injuries, bad calls, and uncontrollable variables in any given game—they stay focused on what they can control. This laser focus is their key to getting back on track, building momentum, and launching another scoring spree or defensive lockdown to ultimately win the game.
Now I know what you’re thinking— you didn’t expect me to write about sports, huh? Well, neither did I 😂 And a part of me feels a little silly because of my limited knowledge of it all from a technical aspect.
But when it comes to the resilience and mental strength of athletes, there is so much to be admired. As creatives, I’m seeing our own careers in a new light, as a “game of runs” too.
The freelance life throws constant curveballs: securing consistent work, navigating fluctuating income, and managing various clients and projects. But amidst this daily adversity, what aspects of our creative journey can we focus on controlling?
I know I can gain my creative momentum back because I've been here before – the dreaded slump where inspiration dives and motivation dwindles. But instead of succumbing to it, I leverage what I can control.
This means prioritizing my physical and mental well-being through exercise, walks, or journaling. It also means showing up for my creativity, even if it's just 30 minutes of songwriting. On uninspired days, I organize my voice notes and lyric ideas. So that the next time I do feel inspired my ideas are organized and ready for me to further dive into.
Lows are inevitable in the freelance and creative world, but they don’t define your career by any means.
What does define your career is how you choose to respond in those critical moments.
By focusing on what you can control, you build momentum for the inevitable highs. Remember, giving it your all is the true victory, regardless of the outcome.
So, the next time you're facing a creative slump, try tapping into an athlete's mindset and their unwavering focus. Channel that resilience, and you may find yourself back in your scoring zone in no time.
Here's to our next big run,
M
What are your strategies for overcoming creative slumps? Let me know in the comments!