3 Journal Prompts that Helped Me Overcome Creative Fear

When I had creative burnout, I stared at the blank page as if it was an enemy.

Looking back on it, I realized that it's pretty crazy that something that seems so harmless as a blank page can cause so much anxiety. Yet, here I was, feeling physically sick and nauseated and unable to write.

Perhaps if I had more discipline I'd be able to write?

I tried all my tricks - setting the timer, doing a few writing exercises, and even getting hired for more writing assignments. Yet, none of it worked. I felt so burned out, I could barely write.

What brought me back? Journaling. I finally hit on some prompts that would help me immensely. I hope they help you just as much as they helped me!

"What Would Happen If I Created Freely?"

Back then, something held me back from creating. What was it? What was I afraid of?

As it turns out, I needed to confront why I was blocked. I needed to ask myself what would happen if I created freely again. The truth came out on those pages. I was afraid that if I started writing again, I wouldn't enjoy it. I would continue writing for other people and keep the same cycle that burned me out in the first place.

Ask yourself this question in your journal the next time you feel hesitant to create, and then watch what happens.

"What Would I Create If No One Was Watching?"

This journal prompt was especially meaningful to me because part of my burnout stemmed from not wanting to share my work, not wanting to be vulnerable on the page.

I felt constantly paranoid people would find my writing and read it. I lived in constant fear that someone would read my journal.

So, I downloaded a diary app that had a password protection feature and I finally answered the question. What would I create if no one was watching?

I told the journal app that I would create whatever I wanted without caring if I were making money. I said that I would share my true self and my real emotions. I would have courage to clear away my brain clutter, take a deep breath, and become the writer I was always meant to be.

Consider answering this question whenever you feel safe. It's very freeing.

"When Did My Creative Burnout First Begin?"

My creative burnout was pretty traumatizing. I always wanted to become a writer, and I actually made it happen. For ten years, while I was traveling the world as a military spouse, I made money doing what I loved.

I thought I was happy. In retrospect I was actually a ball of stress.

Where did my creative burnout begin? It started when I accepted my very first writing assignment on a topic that I cared nothing about and didn't even receive a byline. I simply wrote that piece because I got paid to do so.

This was early on in my career, and then I spent several years following the same pace. I couldn't take it anymore.

Do you have creative burnout? Are you blocked? Whatever you're going through, you can swap out "Creative Burnout" for whatever your problem is and see if you can't uncover some truths.

"When Did I First Feel Self Conscious of My Creativity?"

I started to feel self conscious when I was hurting. When I started at the blank page and felt both numb and physically sick, I felt ashamed. This feeling of shamed developed into a crippling self consciousness.

Answering this question is revealing a crucial truth. Many who have a heard time with their creative pursuits don't always think of it this way.

The truth is? Self consciousness is driven by fear, and fear can be scary. But it doesn't have to be, with the right support system you can create with joy, without working what others will think.

How do you know when it is the right time to answer this question in your journal? Do it on a day where you feel a bit out of sorts as you try to create but something is stopping you. You might be surprised what it could say.

The Blank Page Is a Safe Space

In order to overcome fear and heal my creative burnout, I had to admit that the blank page is a safe space. I have found the above three journal prompts to be helpful in my journey.

In fact, once I started using that diary app, I started to heal for good. I knew that no one would read my words, which removed the fear and caused the fog to left.

This article was inspired by a piece I wrote where I explored the ins and outs of the creator's lifestyle. I realized that when I was experiencing creative burnout, I would have found the prompts listed in this article to be helpful.