A lot of creative types struggle with creative motivation. They ask themselves: How do I break a creative block? What will inspire me to achieve greater creative results? This is a big focus on the Creativity Builders Group and for good reasons. But what about creative momentum? Ironically, a lot of the answers sought for motivation might be found in understanding momentum.

While motivation is concerned with getting started or restarted artistically, momentum is concerned with keeping it going once it has started. The word "momentum" literally means "to move." Physically, it is the impetus of an object in motion based on the mass of the object and rate of its speed (velocity). If used as a creative metaphor, momentum would imply that the greater the inspiration that got the creative energy going, the greater the momentum or length of time one could spend in creative acts. Likewise the greater the velocity or rapidness of ones creative energy, the greater or more intense the experience of creative acts. Who hasn't experience that RUSH that comes from engaging in creative activity and how one will push on without food or sleep to keep creating. It is addictive causing us want more and more...not to mention the fear that if one stops, it might not start again or at least, not in the same intensity.

Creative types tend to want to control there environment to prevent disturbances in their creative activities. They also engage in creative rituals (music, clothing, etc) to prevent any forces slowing the momentum down (creative conservation?).

Interestingly, physical descriptions of momentum define it as linear. I feel that creative momentum is circular. The creative energy tends to increase and then fall back into rest. Scientific research proves that rest is necessary for creativity to spark anew or achieve a breakthrough. Just because the body stops, it doesn't mean that the mind has slowed down. By looking at creative momentum as a circle, you are not limited with the inevitable ENDING of a linear momentum. No wonder we fear creative rests and struggle so much with creative blocks. Linearally, when the creative momentum ends, there is no sure way to get it going again. If it is circular, it simply transforms to a different state and never really ends.

There are more speculations about creative momentum that we could make but let's hear from you. What do you think about this idea? Does it motivate you or spur you on in momentum? Click the speak link below to share.