Hi Mermaid,

I just wanted to say something that may be helpful. You say you are needing to be creative but don’t know how to jump start yourself in a direction. I think we creative types are prone to depressive states because we feel so much and if we don’t have a channel to funnel those feelings we get overwhelmed by them. And when you are overwhelmed, it paralyzes you. What I have done to get my juices flowing (and it can be hard to take that first step, but it has always brought me back to life) is to find a place to be creative with other creative people. Forget about the 9-5 for now if you have that option. It is not how creatives function anyway. Go find an art center. If they don’t have a job opening, volunteer to help out there. Or take some classes there. Take many classes there and find something that sparks your passion or at least gives you motivation to put your ideas into motion. Join a community theater group. Just get yourself out there with other creatives, because believe me, it will inspire you. And you can take all these feelings that are overwhelming you and turn them into art. That’s what art is. Feelings creatively expressed. Once you get going, you will feel better because you will no longer feel bottled up. I know you said you live in the country, but hopefully there is a town close by that has some sort of art center or such. Also, you can look for jobs helping or apprenticing in an artists studio. I have worked for a potter and taken classes in pottery, worked in a stained glass studio, learned how and made jewelry (which I currently sell in a couple of shops) spent years playing in community theater, am teaching myself to paint, and am moving into working with wool soon with all kinds of ideas of what I want to create. I’m not saying it will make all your troubles go away, but it will certainly put them in the back seat once you get going.

What I’m saying is there are opportunities out there to get you unstuck. all you have to do is take that first step and you would be amazed at how you will be inspired to do more and will find your passion(s). If you find your community of like minds, maybe you will feel strong enough to move out of the home and closer to where you feel alive! Don’t underestimate how feeling productive doing something you love can turn your whole experience of life around. You will gain confidence in yourself and your abilities and that in turn will fuel you to experience more. It’s a path to self discovery and inner growth. And it beats the hell out of sitting at home sad, frustrated and paralyzed with nothing better to do than drown in feelings that have no place to go.