If you have creative work in the hopper (or simply an idea!), you’re invited to learn and create alongside us this summer as we explore key concepts and actionable ideas to move creativity forward inspired by Dr. Eric Maisel’s book, “Fearless Creating: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and Completing Your Work of Art” (affiliate link).
🎧 Start Here
Welcome To Week 9!✨
Reconnecting with your project when the honeymoon phase is over
You’ve been showing up.
You’ve stayed in the work.
You’ve pushed through messy drafts, awkward sentences, and the occasional “Why am I even doing this?” moment.
And then…The sparkle fades.
Missed Last Week?
When the Magic Wears Off
Every creative project has a honeymoon phase.
It’s fresh. It’s exciting. You’re convinced you’ve unlocked your magnum opus.
Then one day, you look at your work and think: “Meh.”
It’s not broken but the thrill is kinda gone.
This is normal. It’s not a sign you should quit.
It’s a sign you’ve entered the long middle, the part where finishing takes precedence over feeling.
Naming the Resistance
Dr. Eric Maisel calls this critical-mind anxiety: The inner monologue that tells you your work isn’t good enough (and maybe never was).
The cure isn’t to shut your inner critic up completely. That voice might actually have a few valid points about what’s working and what isn’t.
The key is to keep going while the voice is talking.
How to Love the Work Again
You don’t have to feel the rush of inspiration to make something great.
Instead, try these ways to rekindle your connection:
Change the lens.
Work on a different section, angle, or element to see your project from a new perspective.Micro-celebrations.
Mark small milestones. Finished a paragraph? Chose a color palette? That’s a win.Remind yourself why.
Go back to the moment you committed to this project. What made it worth your time in the first place?
🛠️ This Week’s Practice
Commit to three focused sessions, no matter how you feel about the work.
Start each session by reading your original Declaration of Commitment from Week 5.
End each session by writing one thing you still appreciate about your project.
Check out Week 5 here:
What Does Your Creative Commitment Really Mean?
If you have creative work in the hopper (or simply an idea!), you’re invited to learn and create alongside us this summer as we explore key concepts and actionable ideas to move creativity forward inspired by Dr. Eric Maisel’s book, “Fearless Creating: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and Completing Your Work of Art”
💭 Reflection Prompt:
“What does it look like for me to show up with love for my work even when I’m not in love with it?”
🧭 Coming Next...
In Week 10, we’ll explore the art of declaring something “done” — even if your perfectionist brain protests.
For now, remember: the long middle is where your craft grows.
The shine will return, but only if you keep going.
You’ve got this.
