How do I keep my newfound creative spark?
The story
This morning, I had a weird feeling I can't really explain.
It started as how any usual day starts for me: excruciating mental pain. For the first half of the day, I thought I was done for, just like always. I remembered how much I was harassed and how ugly it got, and I thought I was gonna get found by the person who ultimately ruined my entire life in just one day. I'm pretty sure I said parts of what I can actually say in previous posts, but long story short I was completely done with my goals. I gave up, giving AI little of what was left of my creativity just to see if I can get that old spark back (which is a mistake, but I had zero resource and I was in a block).
Today, however, I felt something different after the second half of the day. I was scrolling through channels trying to crunch down another boring samey Sunday, until I landed on a movie about experiencing the joys of life. It ignited something on me; I looked around my living room, no shortage of something I'm good at: collecting Nintendo controllers specifically. In my living room alone, I found a cyan Wii Remote, a golden Classic Controller Pro, and my NSO 2 GameCube Controller. I looked at my trampoline and at all the free space in my house, and I thought about how much I love to run and exercise freely. I thought about my tastes in food and realized how unique they were--I might hate white condiments, but I love well-prepared anchovy pizza and pineapple pizza, I love drinking frozen matcha and eating loaded potato soup. I sat for a little longer and all of a sudden, I saw a vision of a character sitting beside me like if they were alive. Suddenly, I felt like I really wanted to go to the mall and let myself loose--find out what kinds of stores it had, how many stories, what where the anchors, what was at the food court, playing at a Dave & Busters, just overall letting myself loose and seeing the very appealing design that was the inside of a mall. This interest wasn't just an obligation to keep me stimulated; it was an actual call to return to my old self. I saw the similarities between my favorite (drawing) artists, and I stopped feeling anxious, even if some of these still make me go WTF. I acknowledged that despite their damning similarities, they each bring something new to the table and keeping me to innovate and do the same: follow the same footsteps but bring something new to the table. I even felt like coming up with a plan to start over with my art, presumably just in time for next year's ArtFight.
There's one problem though. I've had similar breakthroughs before, and I don't know how to keep the newfound spark. I'm enrolled in some coding classes that really frustrated me and completely broke on me and I'm pretty sure I failed the assignment because it's past the deadline and the whole program was straight up broken in the professor's end. It got me super mad, and it even blocked my creativity. My spark can easily just disappear.
So I have a question: what would you guys do to keep the spark alive? I do indeed have a plan to redefine what my creativity truly means, but what if more frustrating coding assignments ruin everything for this spark and leave me right where I got started once again?

Stories in the same category
Points of view
Hey, I totally get where you're coming from. It's tough when you feel like you're fighting to keep that spark alive, especially with all the stress of coding classes bearing down on you. I remember feeling overwhelmed trying to juggle my own projects and deadlines, like when I almost threw my laptop out the window during finals week.
Finding inspiration is amazing, but keeping it going feels like trying to keep a candle lit in a hurricane sometimes. Your story about finding joy in your interests, like gaming and unique food tastes, really resonated with me. Those personal interests play a huge role in fostering creativity and keeping your mind inspired.
About those coding frustrations, ugh, been there. It's like the universe throws curveballs just to see if we'll fumble. Maybe turning those moments of discouragement into fuel can help? Use them to remind yourself of why you started in the first place. Balancing structure and spontaneity can be a tightrope walk, but it sounds like you have a strong foundation in your personal interests and abilities.
It’s all about finding a balance between the obligations that drain you and the passions that rejuvenate you. Build in more time for what you love and maybe even let go of some stuff that's too stressful. You'll find a way to make it work; you've got this! 😊
I get that coding assignments can totally be a bummer and drain your energy. I once had this programming project that seemed impossible, and I nearly tossed my laptop out of sheer frustration. But I realized, focusing on what I can control, like my break times for some Nintendo, actually helped balance things out. Maybe try to carve out tiny moments for yourself in between those tasks, and slowly but surely, it might help keep that creative spark going.
Staying positive can be tough, but don’t let those setbacks dictate your journey. Just remember, even with setbacks, every small step forward is progress. Keep pushing through!
That feeling of wanting to explore and let loose in the mall sounds like a refreshing reminder of the joy in life's simple pleasures. Your passion for what you love—like collecting Nintendo controllers and enjoying unique foods— is an awesome way to stay connected to your interests and creativity. Engaging with these passions might truly be a way to maintain that spark, even when life throws those frustrating coding assignments your way. Already tried to work on personal projects just for fun?
Hey!!
I appreciate you sharing your story; it’s not easy to open up about feeling stuck. However, it’s interesting to consider how much energy is going into thinking about your setbacks. You mentioned that watching a movie ignited something within you, which is great, but I think you're giving too much weight to these breakthrough moments. What if instead of waiting for sparks, you focused more on cultivating a steady flame through routine and discipline?!!!
In terms of keeping your spark alive, why not look at this creatively? Acknowledge the frustration with coding, but don't let it overshadow your passions. Consistency and persistence can sometimes be more effective than waiting for inspiration to strike. Remember, many artists find their greatest work in the day-to-day grind. “Just keep swimming,” right?
Keep your head up! Change your perspective a bit and you'll maybe see that setbacks can really be setups for comebacks. Maybe think of those pesky assignments as just another level in a game; challenging, for sure, but not unbeatable.
it’s no fun feeling like you're spinning your wheels. But, honestly, relying on random moments of inspiration might not be the best strategy. It’s kind of like waiting for lightning to strike twice in the same spot. Instead, what if you tried building a routine that supports your creativity more consistently? I mean, I've been there with frustrating projects, and what helped was making small daily progress, even when I didn't feel super inspired.
Coding can definitely be a pain, and it does eat away at your energy, for sure. I had a similar situation where a project was dragging me down, but focusing on small victories helped me push through. You've got to find a way to balance the tough stuff with things that actually make you happy.
Try not to let disappointment from those assignments overshadow your entire outlook. You've got this, and a little persistence goes a long way; finding a steady rhythm might keep that spark alive better than waiting for that one big moment. Keep going!
hey, i totally hear you and get the struggle, but i think maybe relying on sudden bursts of inspiration is not the best way to handle it. it's kind of like waiting around for lightning to strike, you know? personally, i've found that keeping a regular schedule, even if you're not feeling super inspired, can really help keep the creative juices flowing.
i get that dealing with coding assignments can be a huge pain and totally zap your energy. there was a time i felt completely overwhelmed by a project, and it just felt impossible. but stepping back and finding small wins in everyday stuff, like taking a break to enjoy a good meal or just zoning out with a game, really helped me keep going.
you’ve got some awesome interests and passions, and those can definitely be a solid foundation to build on. rather than waiting for things to change out of the blue, maybe look at ways you can integrate bits of what you love into your daily routine; if you can find that balance, it might help maintain your spark even when things get tough. i think what you’re aiming for is possible, but maybe reconsider how you approach keeping your creativity alive. keep pushing forward! 😊
hey, i feel you on this. it's tough when you're just trying to get back into a groove and everything seems to get in the way. sounds like you've been through the wringer, and it's hard not to get frustrated. i totally agree that finding that spark can be a game-changer, but keeping it is the hard part.
i've been there too, having a breakthrough moment only for it to slip away when life's stress piles back up. sometimes it feels like you take one step forward and two steps back, right? it's frustrating, but don't beat yourself up too much. everyone's journey with creativity is different.
maybe trying to recognize those little things that bring you joy more often could help. it’s like when i stop to appreciate something small, it kind of refreshes my mind. it sounds like you have things you truly enjoy, like gaming and unique foods, so maybe lean into those a bit more when things get overwhelming. hang in there! 😊
man, i feel ya😅 it's like you're describing my life sometimes. totally get the struggle with trying to keep the creative spark alive when everything else is draggin' you down. you're on the right track with finding joy in the little things, like that game collection of yours. nothing wrong with that!
stop worrying so much about the coding junk. yeah, it's a serious pain, but don’t let it rule your life. go hit up that mall, walk around, have some fun. sometimes you gotta take a break from all the crap and just reset your mind.
heard someone say "creativity is intelligence having fun." keep that in mind next time you hit a block. stay strong, keep pushing forward. you'll figure it out! 💪
i seriously get where you're coming from; feeling stuck and frustrated can be exhausting. it sounds like you've had a tough time, but don’t forget you've got the power to turn things around! tapping into those things you love like gaming and unique foods is such a great start. 😊
sometimes, when life gets tough, we just need to focus on the small joys. if coding assignments are giving you a hard time, maybe try to balance them with your personal interests so you don’t lose that creative spark. everyone hits walls, but it’s awesome you're finding ways to reignite your passion. hang in there!!!
also, don’t be too hard on yourself; progress takes time. you're on the right path, and it sounds like you've got a clear vision for your creativity. keep going and stay hopeful!