When your well runs dry
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Lately, I've felt uninspired. What used to drive me to write has left me feeling empty and dry. I think my well is close to empty.
Authors, content creators, leaders, and more have a well that helps them find new content and ideas to present to their audiences and teams.
Sometimes, these wells run dry. You hit an inspiration block.
There are hours, days, weeks, even years where you may not feel the desire to keep doing what you have done for so long. Writing feels mundane. New content isn't coming easily. Or you don't know how to direct your organization.
It sucks… But it doesn't have to be the end of what you love to do.
When your well runs dry, do you continue doing what you've always loved? Or do you hang up your pen, your leadership hat, or whatever else you're doing?
How do you fill your well when your well is dry? You can do the following:
Explore your hobbies. Hobbies help you experience joy and happiness in a different arena than your career.
By taking a break from the daily grind, you are able to refill the empty well. You're able to help yourself see new possibilities by doing something you love.
Go, explore your hobbies again. Find the joy. See the joy fuel your empty well.
Read new blogs. I love blogs, but sometimes reading the same authors can be boring. When this happens, I need to find new authors who can help inspire me and generate new ideas.
I use content aggregators to help me explore these new voices. I go to sites such as Pastors.com, Leadership Digital, and others. These sites seek out the best in the blog-o-sphere and share content from multiple creators.
Often I will see content from new leaders I didn't know about before.
These new voices make me think in a different way and continue the good journey.
Watch great leadership videos. In addition to reading blogs, something that has helped me fill my well has been the wealth of leadership videos. They are created by leaders from around the world and are available for free or at a low cost.
I can watch other leaders who are inspired. Their excitement helps me overcome my own negative feelings.
Find leaders who are putting out great leadership content in video form. These leaders will help you fill your well when it is dry.
Get off of social media. Want to drain your well quickly? Get involved with all the drama on social media.
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram offer uplifting content as well as the most depressing content. Learn to control your intake of social media and your well can begin to refill.
Not only will you be rid of many negative social interactions, you will find you have more time for the things that truly matter.
Refilling your well isn't difficult. What it requires, though, is intentionality. You have to choose to find new inspiration, to look for new ways to think, and to actually do it.
Don't let your well stay dry.
 | Joseph Lalonde is an award-winning leadership blogger and hosted the Answers From Leadership podcast. He desires to see 20-somethings step into their God-ordained roles as leaders. Previously, on the E3 staff and currently serving in the Catalyst youth ministry of Gateway Church, Joseph has mentored many students and has seen their lives changed through this teaching. His mission is to help equip leaders with the knowledge and information to boost their leadership to the next level. This article was first published on JMLalonde.com. Used with permission Learn More » |
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