Thought Blog: How To Get Out Of A Rut

Ever find yourself in a rut? Going through the motions day after day. You may have everything you need at your fingertips but inspiration is nowhere to be found. I’ve been there many times. With a career that relies solely on creativity, being in a rut or hitting writers block can trap me in a state of depression. But the solution may not be as complicated as your panicking mind will tell you it is…

That isn’t exactly true, Bill. Getting out of a rut doesnt require you to move to another country, or dump all your friends and start over, or shave your head and get a face tattoo… It’s all about perspective. An old friend Albert Einstein once said:

Now I am not calling anyone insane but we are creatures of habit, and it’s easy and comforting to fall into the same routine. But breaking that routine even slightly can change the entire way your brain works.

I recently read and article in Esquire Magazine in which Steve Carell gave some random life advice. He explained that in a certain role he decided his character was left handed. Carell never announced this or told anyone else involved in the production, instead he quietly made it a part of the role. When reaching for a drink on screen he would use his left hand, or pick up the phone with his left hand, etc. He says “When your brain is firing differently, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

How inspiring is that? One little tiny detail that probably no one even noticed. But when sitting in the back of your mind, it changes the whole way your brain works. Something I do when feeling in a rut is to interact with EVERYONE I come in contact with. In a small or large way: This morning when walking for my coffee I did just that. I had a 15 minute conversation with a Children International volunteer who I may have tried to avoid on a different day. I complimented a few peoples outfits, or hair, or shoes (people love random compliments). And since I couldn’t stop and chat with everyone in the world, eye contact and a smile was reserved for everyone else I passed. And here I am back home and inspired to write and share this with all of you. Feels good.

Try something like this on your own and let me know about the experience!