From Resistance to Creative Flow: Lessons from My Creative Retreat

Have you ever turned on a garden hose expecting a strong, steady flow of water, only to find it barely dribbling out? If you’re like me, your first instinct is to check for obstructions—kinks in the line, debris clogging the flow, or maybe even a forgotten valve left half-closed.

That’s exactly how my life felt leading up to my personal creative retreat. Somewhere along the way, resistance had crept in. The creative energy that usually flows effortlessly through me had become blocked. I could feel the pressure building, but it wasn’t reaching its full potential. This retreat was my chance to clear the hose and reconnect with the creative flow I know is always available.

Having completed the second week of my three-week Personal Creative Working Retreat, I'm now fully immersed in powerful states of creative flow. It’s been an incredible journey, one filled with valuable insights, lessons, and practical actions that I want to share with you.

How’s the Retreat Going?

Simply put: amazing. But it didn't start that way. The first week, I wrestled with resistance, unmet expectations, and a sense of being "off track." I envisioned mornings wrapped in solitude, journaling, meditating, and watching the sunrise in the Smoky Mountain National Forest.

Instead, I found myself fretting over road closures due to weather conditions—first from high winds and then from snow and ice accumulations in the mountains.

I also faced unmet expectations about the work I planned to accomplish during the "working" portion of this retreat due to technology issues.

It wasn't until the second day of week two that everything clicked. Through deep journaling, quiet reflection, and releasing my rigid expectations, I felt the creative energy begin to flow freely again. That's when the true magic of this retreat emerged.

Would I Do This Again?

Absolutely. This retreat has shown me the transformative power of stepping away from my daily routines and environments to intentionally create space for solitude and reflection. I now understand why so many mentors and peers have made this an annual practice, and I'm proud to join their ranks. This is a practice I plan to incorporate into my life annually, if not more frequently.

What Would I Do Differently?

Next time, I'll plan further in advance. I conceived this three-week retreat less than a month before departing. In the future, I want to set the date, choose the location, and determine the duration at least two months ahead. This will let me clear my schedule more easily and avoid scheduling tasks like bookkeeping and accounting during the retreat

Most importantly, I will go into the retreat with fewer expectations of what the experience "should" look like. While I'll still have preferences for certain experiences, I won't let them become rigid demands. If circumstances prevent these preferences from becoming reality, I'll adapt more quickly to what's possible. During this retreat, I initially spent too much energy focusing on what wasn't working. In future retreats, I'll ask myself sooner: With what I currently have, what is possible?

What Creative Insights and Actions Have Come Out of This Retreat?

This retreat has been incredibly fruitful. Here are just a few of the creative shifts and commitments I’ve made:

• Morning Pages: Inspired by The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, I've started writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts every morning. This practice has brought new clarity and creative ideas that I'm already acting on, and it's a practice I plan to add to my already powerful journaling routine.
• Seed Planting Strategy: I've revamped my approach to building meaningful connections by implementing a new tracking system. I've also committed to having at least four 30-minute connect calls, by invitation only, each week.
• Ketogenic Lifestyle: After maintaining a consistent ketogenic lifestyle for over two years before the pandemic, I'm now recommitting to this powerful way of eating. While I've dabbled with keto since the pandemic, I've now refined my approach with a focused 20 net carb limit, and a long-term commitment. The mental clarity and energy I've already regained have been incredible, reminding me why I was so successful with this approach before.
• Physical Activity with Connection: Without access to my home gym during this retreat, I was inspired to try something new—combining my workouts with connect calls by walking outside while engaging in meaningful conversations with friends, clients, and peers. While I'm looking forward to returning to my gym at home, I'm definitely keeping this habit of walking during connect calls.
• Reconnection to My Work: Above all, this retreat has renewed my focus on the work I do, its importance, and the value it adds to the lives of others. The creative flow is fully open, and I'm excited about what's to come.

This retreat has been a gift, and I hope that sharing my journey inspires you to take a step back and create space for your own creative breakthroughs.

For a deeper dive into my retreat experience and lessons learned, check out episode 755 of The Cliff Ravenscraft Show. Listen to the full episode here, where I share detailed insights from these first two weeks.

Let’s Connect

If this inspires you to create your own personal retreat, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected] and share when, where, and how long you plan to make it happen. And if you’re already in the habit of doing personal retreats, I’d love to hear about your experiences—feel free to attach a photo if you’d like!

Also, if you’re on an entrepreneurial journey and want to explore working together in one of my mastermind groups or through coaching, email me to let me know.

Sincerely,

Cliff