i feel broken

not gonna lie, your story hits close to home... ever thought it might be about the pressure of trying to force happiness from something that used to come naturally? like, when you try too hard to recapture old feelings and it just backfires; sometimes, forcing yourself can make things worse. maybe stepping away for a bit would help, see if there's another way to find joy without the pressure of past expectations. life's unpredictable, right? who knows where you'll find your next spark!

it's tough when something that once brought joy feels empty now, but sometimes it's not about the hobby itself, it might be more about our current state of mind and the pressure to feel a certain way; maybe experimenting with new techniques or styles could rekindle something without any expectations attached, like exploring art with different tools or mediums might surprise you.

Hey, I’ve gotta wonder. Maybe it's not just the painting itself that's the issue? Ever thought it might be worth exploring how other parts of life are impacting it? Like, I've been there too with old hobbies, and sometimes changing something else around me (like my routine or even my space) kinda changed how I felt about the hobby. It’s weird but you'd be surprised how little shifts outside the hobby can reignite that spark. Just throwing ideas out there!!

omg same happened when i tried playing guitar again which used to be fun.. now it jus feels weird like ive grown outta it :(

Sounds like you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself to find joy in painting. Sometimes things change, and what worked before might not work now. I get that it feels like you’re trying to piece together a puzzle that no longer fits; maybe what you need is a new box, not the old one; I've been there with an old hobby myself, drowning in frustration instead of finding solace. Maybe it's okay if painting doesn't give you that spark anymore. Nobody says you have to force it; why not try something else entirely? Keep experimenting until something clicks again...but definitely don't beat yourself up over this!

man, that sounds rough.... :( :(

i totally get this!!! last month i picked up knitting again after years thinking it would calm my nerves... but instead it stressed me out even more lol! couldn't even finish one scarf without wanting to scream.

Been there, felt that; maybe it ain't even about the painting itself, but what you're associating with it or hoping to get from it.

Ah, I totally get it. It's like when you revisit a song from your teen years expecting to get that same rush but all you feel is... static. It's tough when hobbies start feeling like chores instead of outlets. Maybe it's not about forcing the old love back into the picture, but allowing yourself the freedom to drift away temporarily and see what new passions might call out to you. Sometimes redefining what brings us joy means acknowledging that our interests evolve over time, even if it feels unsettling or awkward at first. Just know it's okay to struggle with these changes and there's no rush to figure everything out immediately.

ah, the struggle of revisiting old passions only to find they no longer fit like that comfy pair of jeans you outgrew. i totally get it! sometimes it's these attempts to chase happiness in familiar places that make us feel more lost than ever; maybe painting used to be your sanctuary because life was different back then, and now it feels like a hopeless search for something that's changed. trying to force those past emotions can just suck the joy outta things even more!!! have you thought about using art in a completely different way? like letting yourself create without the pressure of making 'good' art, or maybe even collaborating with someone else to see if their energy sparks anything new?? it's wild how unexpected connections can shake things up... might help break that frustrating cycle you're stuck in!

yea felt that way b4 w/ sports

so maybe it's not about the painting failing you, but more like how we carry past expectations? i get that frustration when what once clicked just... doesn't. art is supposed to be freeing, right? but it can also turn into this mirror reflecting back all our insecurities and self-judgment. instead of feeling bad about a blank canvas, could be worth looking at it as a space with no preattached feelings or blame. fresh start vibes? like, give yourself permission to create crap if that's what happens! who knows, without the pressure to produce your best work every time, you might actually stumble onto something interesting. thoughts???

I get where you're coming from for real. Sometimes just picking up a hobby from the past feels like trying on an old pair of jeans....they might not fit quite right anymore! It's crazy how our interests can change over time without us really noticing. I remember when I got back into gardening after moving to a new place, expecting it to be relaxing like before, but everything felt off; The vibe was different and sunlight wasn't as ideal as before making me realize it's not about the plants, it's about the connection I had with it before. Maybe you gotta look at things and accept that some changes are normal. And who knows? You might spark something by approaching painting in a totally unconventional way like using unexpected colors or just painting silly subject matter! It doesn't have to make sense....it's art!!

sounds pretty rough honestly.

I remember trying to get back into cycling a few months ago; used to love riding through the trails, feeling the breeze and freedom. But when I hopped back on my bike recently, it felt stiff and unexciting. It's frustrating when things that once brought joy stop resonating with us. Have you considered what specifically about painting feels off now than before? Sometimes pinpointing what's changed can help decide if it's worth adjusting something small or moving on to something completely new; maybe explore different art forms like sculpture or digital painting🤔.

have you tried doing something else entirely new instead? maybe that could help shift things around a bit.

Oh boy, sounds like that painting session hit harder than a failed Pinterest project, huh? 😂 It's crazy how trying to dive back into old hobbies can sometimes feel more like a disappointment than a delight. But maybe that's just life nudging you to switch things up a bit! Ever thought about experimenting with different mediums or styles, just for kicks?? Might not rekindle the old love immediately, but hey, at least it won't be the same soul-sucking routine; mix some watercolor with oils… or heck, try finger painting again like when we were kids! You never know what weird and wonderful might come outta chaos.

who needs hobbies? 🤪

This feeling can happen sometimes when we try revisiting our past passions but maybe it's also about finding new meaning within them.

honestly your expectations might be too high dude. if you don't enjoy painting anymore then let it go!