It happens to all of us. We go full throttle for days on end, ideas galore, checking items off our to-do list, and then…crash. Nothing. Has this ever happened to you? Wonder who pulled the plug on your energy levels? It feels like your mind is full of Jell-O when you try to think of the simplest things like what to make for supper? I hear you. In fact, some days, I’m like, this is it. I’ve don’t have the energy to do anything anymore. I’m getting old. Sigh.

Why do we feel like this? Our sacral chakra gets blocked.

I bet you totally get it; we’ve all been there which is why I wanted to share a way that I recently got myself moving again. It may seem a bit unconventional, but it worked when I couldn’t get unstuck. I got creative and turned a family heirloom into an upholstered footstool. My simple upcycle project activated my sacral chakra and got my creativity flowing again! Even though you may not tackle the same footstool DIY makeover project I did, the tips in this post will help you get creative when you’re feeling stuck.

GET INSPIRED

How did I decide to do a footstool makeover? I went shopping! No, really. I went shopping for a footstool to put under the desk in my newly decorated office. As I looked around at the footstools available, I remembered that I had an old footstool my dad made tucked away in the bottom of a closet. What could be better than honoring a handmade piece of family furniture and upcycling it to give it a new purpose? Creativity is weird because we all have to tap into it whether we consider ourselves creative or not. And guess what? When your sacral chakra is blocked, the energy can’t flow freely. Creative expression is blocked, and you lack vitality. What can you do? Let yourself be inspired. Look for inspiration all around. Think outside of the box. Let your mind wander. You never know what ideas you’ll come up with.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

In order to make sure you finish your creative project – keep it simple. My little wooden footstool had a lot of memories attached to it, but I have to confess that I had it tucked away for years and didn’t use it. Even though it was well constructed, what was I going to do with a painted wooden footstool? I wanted my project to be fun, easy, and affordable so, I dug it out of the closet, found some fabric on sale, and bought a pre-made pillow form. When you’re doing a creative project, keep it simple by buying as many pre-made supplies (like my pillow form) as you can. When your design is uncomplicated, you’re more likely to enjoy the creative process and balance the energy of your sacral chakra. Here’s another post on how being creative can balance chakras.

HAVE FUN

I like nice things. I like pretty things. But when I’m being creative, I have to let go of attachment to outcome. When I put the fabric on the pillow for my refurbished footrest, I was obsessed with perfectly centering the pattern. It wouldn’t go on straight even after pinning it. I was frustrated. When this happens to you, remind yourself why you are doing it. What’s the worse that could happen? Is your design worth sweating over? I bet it isn’t. Letting go of expectations allows you to have fun, get the energy in your body moving, and unblock your sacral chakra.

FINISH WHAT YOU START

If you’re like me, you have a closet full of unfinished projects. A partial slipper you tried to crochet, a watercolor painting that didn’t quite go the way you planned, or a pile of pictures to scan to the computer. You get it. We’ve all got those reminders. When I reupholstered the ottoman, I had trouble folding the fabric on the corners. After several failed attempts and pulled out staples, I wanted to give up. Then I remembered my mom. She used to recover upholstery. When the staples were uneven, or they pulled the fabric off center she used to get frustrated. But you know what? She never gave up. Check out this post to see what else my mom taught me.

Have you ever hit a creative roadblock where you tried something, didn’t like the way it looked, and did it over again? Twice, even three times? And in all of that, wanted to walk away? I hear you. Even though it may be frustrating, it’s important to finish what you start even if you don’t like the way it is turning out. Do your best. Have fun, and remember, unless you’re selling your masterpiece, focus on enjoying the creative process more than the outcome.

I think my footstool turned out well and it’s functional! So, when you’re feeling stuck use these tips to get creatively inspired. Keep your project simple by using pre-made supplies, have fun, take the time to enjoy the creative process, and finish what you start to clear your sacral chakra and re-energize yourself.