Here a Slump, There a Slump, Everywhere a Slump Slump

Catchy and upbeat title for something so negative huh? Well that’s the theme.

I might be writing this blog only for me but I have a feeling it’ll probably help some of you also.

Ever been in a slump? I’m talking a real funk. Nothing medical, just one or two or five of those days where you just don’t seem to want to do anything? Nothing is right. Maybe nothing is even wrong. You’re just down, unhappy, out of it, don’t want to do anything, can’t find a smile and want to spend the whole day in bed, or watching movies or just not speaking with anyone? And when you do talk, all that comes out is complaints, frustrations and maybe even tears. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, congratulations – you can stop reading here. But I think most of us know some form of this feeling.

Personally, I’ve been in a slump for the past 24 hours. It started with a phone call telling me that my doctors appointment had to be pushed back a few hours when I was already on my way there, continued when the doctor informed me that he wants to see me again in 10 days (wait, you mean I won’t be in labor before then? How much longer do I have to be pregnant?!!), and then came to a peak this morning when I realized that I’m in a complete creative funk: blogs not written, cameras with dust on them and poems with no endings. Well hello tears, bad mood & screaming voices in my head. So I did what any normal (ha) person would do. I cried. I sulked. I slept on the couch after getting out of bed for the day. I turned to coffee. I told myself how horrible this day was going to be. And then I looked at the clock and realized that it was awfully early to consider a day ruined. So then I did what any abnormal person would do. I closed my eyes and prayed whatever I could to a God who won’t tell me I’m crazy for feeling this way. I read a devotional about the need for desperate reassurance and meditated on the scriptures “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)” and “Whatever is true…think about such things…And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9). And then I took action. I did the things that I know make me feel better. I wrote in my journal about how blessed I’ve been these past few months. I brushed my messy hair and put my favorite smoothing shine spray in it – something that makes me feel a bit less untamed. I took a few minutes to sit with my vanity mirror and put on some makeup – something that always makes me feel more attractive. I put on the necklace my parents got me for my birthday – something that reminds me I’m loved. I read the birthday card Chris got me this year – something that reminds me how desired I am. And I’m writing this blog – something that reminds me it’s not hard to get out of a creative funk.

Am I all fixed? Nope! But do I feel better than I did an hour ago? You bet.

What do you do when you’re in a slump? And what CAN you do to survive the slump?