I quote Elizabeth Gilbert as much as I can, not just because she is a really good writer but also I relate to her a lot. And everything she writes either gives me that needed push, or it’s something I have been feeling and she just puts it up in words.
And the following instance is no different! I have been doing this for years and never did I realize to write about it or to write it so beautifully.
“A man cannot dress, but his ides get cloth’d at the same time; and if he dresses like a gentleman, every one of them stands presented to his imagination.” – Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne.
I suggest that you try this trick at home.
I’ve done this myself sometimes, when I am feeling particularly sluggish and useless, and when I feel my creativity is hiding from me. I’ll go look at myself in the mirror and say firmly, “Why wouldn’t creativity hide from you, Gilbert? Look at yourself!”
Then I clean myself up. I take the goddamn scrunchie out of my greasy hair. I get out of those stale pajamas and take a shower. I shave – not my bread, but at least my legs. I put on some decent clothes. I brush my teeth, I wash my face. I put on lipstick – and I never put on lipstick. I clear my desk of it’s clutter, throw open a window, and maybe even light a scented candle. I might even put on perfume, for God’s sake. I don’t even put on perfume to go out to dinner, but I will put on perfume in an attempt to seduce creativity back to my side. (Coco Chanel: “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.”)*
It’s not just about creativity, it’s about feeling low in general. The moment you put on your best clothes, dress yourself up, groom yourself, be presentable you feel better about yourself. Your confidence would go up. Keep a pair of clothes that make you feel good, keep a perfume aside that smells of your favorite season and makes you feel alive.
I know dressing up or hell even getting up would take an effort but isn’t it worth to feel good about yourself within minutes and go back to being the rock star that you are?
*From, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, pg. 163
Love,
D