Navigating the Creative Plateau: When Growth Feels Invisible

A visual representation of my thoughts at this time.

Spoiler alert: I’m in it right now.

You know that weird, foggy place where everything feels kind of stuck and uncertain—but you’re still showing up? That’s where I’ve been. The creative plateau. The messy middle. That space where your art doesn’t look bad, but it also doesn’t feel like the breakthrough you’ve been working toward. For me, it’s been amplified by perimenopause brain fog (yep, that’s a thing) and energy dips that sometimes make showing up to create feel like hiking through mud.

And the worst part? When growth feels invisible, I start to feel invisible too.

The thoughts creep in—“Maybe I’m not good at this.” “What if I picked the wrong path?” And that inner critic? It suddenly has a megaphone. But here’s what I’ve realized: those thoughts don’t come from my higher self. They’re not the truth. They’re fear wearing the costume of logic.

What’s Really Happening on the Plateau

In these moments, I’m learning to lean into something softer: somatic work, meditation, EFT tapping—anything that brings me back to my body and quiets the mental spiral. And slowly, I begin to notice things I hadn’t before:

• My style is becoming more defined.

• I’m consistent.

• My desire to create hasn’t left me.

These are wins. Quiet ones, maybe—but they count.

The Messy Middle Is Sacred

I remind myself often: you wouldn’t panic if your cake still looked like batter—you’d trust the process. So why don’t we trust that in ourselves? What if we’re simply in the messy middle of our own becoming? Not broken. Not behind. Just not done baking yet.

A Soft Anchor for You

If you’re in this space too, I hope you’ll borrow a mantra that’s been helping me:

“I already have it. The answers are within. Just be still and listen.”

Say it when you feel overwhelmed. Say it when you want to chase every shiny idea. Say it when you want to quit.

You’re Not Alone (Really, You’re Not)

If you’re navigating a plateau or wondering if you’ll ever “get there,” I hope you know this: your creative journey is still moving, even when it feels like it’s standing still.

🌿 Tag me on Instagram (@starthistle.and.quartz) and share your story. Use the hashtag #StarthistleInBloom so we can hold space for each other through this season.

You are not alone in this slow stretch. You’re just in the middle of the magic.