Fallow times are productive times. I’ve spent the last few months lazing around intellectually. Given that I was coming down from a handful of writing deadlines and processing a few emotional hardships, it was appropriate to settle into a protective and hollow mental space. I admit that I haven’t been reading a lot. I haven’t even been thinking very much. I’ve been curled up, so to speak, allowing my mind to rest so that my creative spirit will reset and regenerate.
Stepping away from an active mindset is easier said than done. Even when I seek a change of pace, it takes me days to settle into a state in which my mind doesn’t churn. Fallowness gives way to sensations of boredom, and boredom makes me feel guilty. When I notice feelings of shame coming on, I swat them away. I remind myself that boredom declutters my mind and makes space for intellectual freshness. It creates an environment in which streams of thought might flow and original ideas might form. Our bodies are similar to fields that benefit from periods of inactivity. We emerge rejuvenated and bring our new energy to our work and our relationships. Not only are we better thanks to fallow periods, but people around us also benefit from the inactive time we’ve given to ourselves.
After a few months that have felt empty and blank, I sense a shift in myself. Ideas are percolating. Each day I sit down to write, and energy rushes into my palms and then my fingers. I am mostly writing fluff, but I’m writing. Though my curiosity and focus are returning, I’m not charging forward just yet. This selfish, fallow period has been restorative. I’ve been kind to myself. I’ve allowed my mind to wander. The starkness has brought new perspectives and opened my heart. Surprising, unexpected creative paths have emerged, and I tentatively begin to pursue them.
Wonderful post. Thank you very much. These times can be productive if we allow ourselves to truly relax and regenerate. Thank you.