From Stuck to Flow – The Power of Letting Go in the Creative Process

Do you know that feeling? You start a new piece full of excitement, but somewhere along the way, things just stall. That’s exactly what happened to me recently. I started painting, but frustration quickly set in. I had to get it right. It had to be beautiful. Perfect. And that pressure completely shut down my creativity.

I was stuck.

Then Bas offered a simple but powerful suggestion: “Maybe you should get a sketchbook. Just to play, to try, to make mistakes. Without pressure.”

So I did. And wow — it changed everything.

In that sketchbook, I found space. Space to fail, to experiment, to reconnect with why I love creating in the first place. I made a sketch of the piece I was struggling with. I drew it the way I had already visualized it in my mind. And just like that, the creative spark came back.

With new energy, I returned to the canvas. Halfway through, I realized the sketch didn’t translate well to the larger format. But instead of getting frustrated again, a new idea popped up — and I adjusted the painting on the spot. Suddenly, it flowed. It felt right again.

What did I learn?

Letting go works.

Letting go of perfection. Of control.

Making space for play, for mistakes, for growth.

And that’s exactly where the magic happens.

With love and creativity,

Debbie ❤️

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