Why I Was Creatively Blocked for 2 Years

(With regards to my writing & social media content creation, specifically.)

I add this caveat because there have been plenty of ways I’ve experienced powerful creative flow over the past two years:

I launched a new brand.

Acquired a new company.

Evolved our marketing strategies.

Completed 3 visa applications.

Entirely re-created my original course Viva La Vagina™ and turned it into a membership.

And a bunch of other things…

But my secret sauce and what started it all in business for me was my ⚡️writing ⚡️

My best writing has always been about sharing my journey of transformation, and transmitting real & raw wisdom about sexual & spiritual awakening.

Prior to launching my courses & shop in 2018, I wrote on my own blog for about 1.5 years.

Once I did launch my business, I became increasingly brave about sharing content on social media. Primarily, Instagram.

(I also created some Youtube content which still exists today - despite being a bit cringe to me nowadays… people still seem to get value from it!)

Mid 2018 to the start of 2020, I was traveling with my teacher and writing quite vulnerably about my transformation, in real time.

I shared about the wisdom I was uncovering via daily Instagram stories and through long(ish)-form writing in my posts.

This sharing was truly the catalyst for initial growth & momentum in my business - I wouldn’t have the audience, email list, and customer-base I have today without the boldness I began with.

After traveling, while I was rooting into Calgary for ~2 years, I continued writing & sharing.

But something big shifted when I came to the US near the end of 2021…

It no longer felt good to share so much of my life on social media.

I began experiencing such rich in-person community that online community felt less interesting.

But I ALSO felt stuck & contracted around my writing in a way I hadn’t previously experienced.

And it has taken me until the past few weeks to find my flow again!

It’s like a yarn-ball got untangled and I can now identify several of the “threads” of what had me feeling less connected to my original momentum & flow the past 2-ish years.

3 Blocks to Creative Thinking

1 - VULNERABILITY HANGOVER

The first few years of sharing content, my inner world was majorly ON DISPLAY.

This allowed people to feel & connect to me quite strongly,

But it was also a big expansion that was majorly exposing.

And as we know - every expansion is followed by contraction.

My epic yet messy transformation had been witnessed through-the-iPhone-screen by family, old friends & colleagues, and people that have known me since school years.

As you can imagine, most of these people did NOT have context for the alternative path I was walking.

So while I attracted a lot of new people who were inspired by me, I shocked a lot of people with whom I had long-standing relationships.

The past few years, many of those people came full-circle and told me how they eventually began experiencing change & life circumstances where they could truly appreciate & admire my journey.

But there is still residual impact that lives in my body from being so open about such a vulnerable, ongoing process of awakening.

Leadership & riding the edge of what’s emerging in collective consciousness is vulnerable AF!

How did I overcome this big contraction?

Well, I had to feel it.

And then I learned from it.

I’ve become more sensitive to the edge of vulnerability that feels good to me.

I’m more discerning about how soon I share my processes, and I allow myself more time to digest before revealing.

It is rightful to discern with who & when we reveal certain parts of ourselves. 

And our body discerns that difference.

So now I determine with more specificity what gets shared with my teacher, partner, certain friends, outer circle, social media, email audience, and so on. 

2 - JUDGING MY WRITING THROUGH THE WRONG LENSES

At one point, my posts got ridiculed publicly by a teacher I respect.

(Or, used to respect).

She went to town, recording an entire hour-long Live Stream ripping my content apart,

Asserting her assumptions about my intentions  for sharing what I share…

The whole thing was rather unkind & unprofessional.

This experience, combined with internalizing some perspectives from a couple other teachers and honing my technical skills, helped maintain my confidence in the face of criticism.

Led me to start evaluating my writing through the lenses I believed other teachers would see it through.

Without realizing, I had begun analyzing my content from third-party lenses that were actually

NOT representative of those who connect deeply with my work.

I fell into a kind of “perfectionism” where I constantly looked for holes & flaws in my own content,

Which had me experiencing less access to my authentic voice.

This was actually a really hard trap to free myself from!

Yet once I took myself through a process of identifying exactly how & what I want to share,

And recognized that there has always been an audience that appreciates my voice,

I became majorly re-inspired to write.

(If you want to know more about the process I went through to somatically “untangle” this in myself, I recorded an audio describing it which is available at the bottom of this article.)

3 - CAN VS. WANT

As people are drawn to my work, they come with their own experiences & troubles. 

As such, they bring their opinions & requests for what they’d like to see me speak to. 

This is great! And often provides inspiration. 

But it can also be a slippery slope into writing on topics that I CAN offer value on, 

Rather than topics I WANT to offer value on. 

“Can do” is much different than “want to do.”

And “can do” has often led me to a place of feeling like I’m working rather than creating. 

Creating feels alive, expansive, AND of service. 

Working tends to feel more obligatory.

Discerning what I want to write about is an ongoing practice of sensing what actually feels alive, inspiring, and at my edge.

When I abandon this commitment, writing quickly becomes heavy-feeling and that ultimately leads to serving no one. 

There were a few specific processes that led me to not only seeing these limitations, but finding my way through them.

The breakthrough with all of this actually happened very quickly.

The yarn-ball untangled itself within only a few days,

After which I found myself writing 3 long-form pieces in the span of 48 hours.

(Each around 1000+ words).

And if you’ve been on my email list the past few weeks, you’ve seen all the others that followed!

This has been more written output than I produced even in the early days of my business.

After 2 years of stagnancy!

If you’d like to learn more about one of the significant processes I took myself through, listen to the audio below where I describe it for you :)

Note that you can certainly take yourself through the process described in the audio, AND the process tends to go deeper when you have a witness who can skillfully invite deeper inquiry & vulnerability. To inquire about receiving 1-1 support, contact us here or check out how you can get text message & voice-note support directly with Courtney here.

FAQ

• What is a creator's block?

  Creator’s block is when you feel completely stuck in your creative process, unable to tap into your usual flow of new creative ideas or start projects with ease. It’s that dreaded blank page moment where every attempt to create feels heavy and uninspired. Creator’s block can affect anyone, whether you’re a graphic designer, writer, or someone simply making space for creative work in everyday life. Common causes include self-criticism, fear of judgment, and feeling disconnected from your original vision. The good news? Creator’s block is temporary, and it’s possible to break free by experimenting with different techniques and reigniting your creative potential.

• What is a creative block?

  A creative block is any mental or emotional barrier that stops the flow of creative ideas. It can look like perfectionism, burnout, or getting caught in your own head and second-guessing every thought. Sometimes it shows up when you’re pushing too hard, and your energy levels are drained. Other times, it’s caused by external factors like a major life transition or feeling overwhelmed by deadlines.

  
  

  To overcome creative blocks, start by checking in with your body and mind, do you need physical exercise, a coffee shop break, or just a moment to reset with fresh inspiration? Taking a step back helps your brain regain clarity and invites fresh ideas to flow naturally.

• What are creative thinking blockers?

  Creative thinking blockers are things that get in the way of your ability to generate innovative ideas and approach problems with a fresh perspective. These blockers can be internal, like fear of failure or self-doubt, or external, like a noisy environment or lack of time. Sometimes they’re sneaky, like trying to create in the same comfort zone without mixing things up. Shifting your surroundings (even sitting in a different chair) or engaging in something fun and spontaneous like drawing, painting, or listening to music can wake up your creative juices and help you see things from a new perspective.

• What inhibits creativity?

  Creativity is often inhibited by self-criticism, perfectionism, and the need to “get it right” instead of allowing the creative process to unfold. Creative challenges also arise from burnout, lack of rest, and over-committing to things you \"should\" do instead of what genuinely excites you. A major change in life, such as a new project or an unexpected challenge, can also temporarily shut down your flow.

  
  

  One of the best ways to reignite your creative potential is to reconnect with things that bring you joy, try taking a break for self-care, moving your body, or seeking fresh inspiration from real life experiences. Give yourself permission to explore and fail, it’s often where the best creative solutions come from.

• How can I overcome creative blocks?

  To overcome creative blocks, try simple but effective strategies like changing your environment (working from a coffee shop or taking a walk), trying physical exercise to release tension, or experimenting with different techniques such as timed free-writing or brainstorming with a family member or friend.

  
  

  Another powerful method is seeking feedback, sometimes, someone else’s perspective can help you see your work with fresh eyes and give you creative problem-solving ideas. The goal is to shift your focus away from the fear of being stuck and invite curiosity back into the process. Sometimes all it takes is allowing yourself to create something “bad” just to get started—it helps break the pressure and gets your creative juices flowing again.

• Why do I feel stuck when trying to create?

  Feeling stuck often comes from self-imposed expectations, fear of judgment, or simply being mentally drained. When you’re focused on the end result instead of the joy of the process, creativity starts to feel like work. Sometimes it’s also your mind’s way of asking for a reset, you may need to recharge your energy levels with more fun, rest, or inspiration from the world around you.

  
  

  Try stepping away for a while, engaging in something completely unrelated (like cooking, dancing, or talking with someone outside your project). These activities can help clear your mind and spark new ideas when you least expect them.

• How can I find new creative ideas when I’m in a slump?

  To find new creative ideas during a creative slump, start by switching up your routine. Create from a new location, sit in a different chair, or bring your project to a coffee shop to soak in a fresh environment. Another way to generate fresh ideas is to consume inspiring content—read books, watch movies, or even visit an art gallery to feed your imagination.

  
  

  You can also give yourself small, low-pressure prompts, write something silly, doodle randomly, or start a small project that isn’t tied to a big deadline. These playful practices help you rediscover the joy of making without the pressure of perfection. Remember, creative flow often returns when you stop forcing it and start having fun with the process.

• What’s the difference between “can do” and “want to do” in creative work?

  “Can do” is about what you’re capable of offering, while “want to do” is what excites you and fuels your creative energy. When you focus solely on what you “can” do, creative work can start to feel like an obligation rather than an exploration. True creative flow comes from sensing what genuinely lights you up and leads you to fresh ideas and inspired projects.

  
  

  If you’ve been stuck working on things that feel heavy, it might be time to pause and ask yourself: What do I want to create just for the fun of it? Giving yourself permission to play can reignite your creative potential and lead to innovative ideas that feel alive and meaningful.

• Why is self-care important for creativity?

  Self-care is crucial because creativity requires mental, emotional, and physical energy. When you’re exhausted, your brain struggles to connect ideas and generate creative solutions. By prioritizing rest, nourishment, and activities that refill your energy levels, you create space for new ideas and avoid burnout.

  
  

  Even small acts like taking a walk, journaling, or creating something unrelated to your current project can help you break free from pressure and approach your work with more clarity and ease.

• Why does taking a break help with creative problem-solving?

  Taking a break helps your brain reset and allows ideas to form subconsciously. When you’re in the thick of a creative problem, you can become hyper-focused and stuck in repetitive thinking. Stepping away, whether for a walk, some physical exercise, or even switching to a fun task, gives your mind a chance to breathe and reconnect with a new perspective.

  
  

  It’s during these moments of rest that fresh ideas and creative solutions often bubble up effortlessly. So if you’re feeling stuck, remember that pausing is part of the creative process, not a failure.

• How can I regain focus when I feel distracted?

  If distractions are derailing your creative work, try simplifying your space and removing distractions. If that’s not enough, changing your environment can make a big difference, try working in a coffee shop, listening to focus-friendly music, or setting short work sprints to regain momentum.

  
  

  You can also ask yourself what’s stealing your focus: Is it external noise, or is it internal, like self-criticism or fear of failure? Addressing the root cause helps you create with more ease and confidence.